Preston North End Community and Education Trust puts the club at Preston's heart

Preston North End is one of the oldest names in English football, and away from matchdays at Deepdale its charity arm has been quietly making a difference across the city for more than thirty years.

The organisation was formerly known as the Sir Tom Finney Foundation, named after the club's greatest player. It later became the Preston North End Community and Education Trust, a rebrand that reflected a greater focus on education. The charity marked its 30th anniversary with a special dinner in the Invincibles Lounge at Deepdale.

Its work has long reached into schools and beyond. In 2015 alone, the trust reported coaching 1,907 primary school children and helping 360 new girls start playing football, numbers that show how far its coaching programmes stretch.

The trust's support has also extended to older people and to those facing hard times. During the pandemic, it ran food hamper and support hub projects for local people, practical help at a moment when many households needed it most.

That work earned recognition. In 2020 the trust won Community Club of the Season in the All Other Leagues category at the North West Football Awards, and the Professional Footballers' Association also highlighted the club's community efforts that year.

Players have played their part too. Defender Jack Whatmough became an ambassador for work helping at-risk young people, and the club has used occasions such as the EFL Community Weekend to celebrate local heroes, including at a home match against Bristol City in January 2024.

What stands out is how naturally the trust connects the club with the people of Preston. A football club's badge can open doors in schools and community centres, and the trust has used that goodwill to support health, education and wellbeing. Behind every statistic are children who discovered a love of sport and families who found help when they needed it.

Information about the trust's programmes, volunteering and ways to get involved is available through Preston North End's official website. Supporting its fundraising is a fine way to back both the club and the city.