Nottingham Forest Community Trust

What Nottingham Forest Community Trust does

Nottingham Forest Community Trust (NFCT) is a registered charity (no: 1139561) and the official charitable arm of Nottingham Forest Football Club, founded in 2010 and headquartered at The City Ground in Nottingham, UK. The organisation delivers a diversified portfolio of community programmes spanning football coaching (Soccer Schools, Premier League Kicks, Goalkeeper Development), health and wellbeing (Resilient Reds, On & Off the Pitch, Walking Football, Mental Health Sessions), education (Premier League Primary Stars, Think Big), and holiday provision (Holiday Activities & Food with free meals and activities). NFCT also operates the Forest Sports Zone facility at the Forest Recreation Ground, which welcomes over 2,000 users weekly and is undergoing a £1.9m redevelopment to become the Forest Sports Hub.

The Trust serves children and young people, schools, adults seeking health support, veterans, and over-50s across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It generated £52.5 million in social value across the 2023-25 seasons (a 21% year-on-year increase), with 86% of participants reporting improvements in physical wellbeing and 85% reporting positive mental health impacts. Technology infrastructure is entirely third-party: Abler and Bookwhen for bookings, Stripe for payments, Mailchimp and Textmagic for communications, Google Analytics and Tag Manager for web analytics. There is no proprietary technology platform.

Revenue is derived primarily from government grants and contracts — notably a combined £3.68m Department for Education HAF award, Nottingham City Council commissioning of £1.8m+, and a £1m Football Foundation grant — supplemented by corporate partnerships (Bally's as principal partner enabling Europa League shirt visibility, Ideagen for Think Big), programme fees (cashless bookings only), and donations (including over £19,000 raised by Forest fans in 2026 via Crowdfunder). The Trust employs approximately 50 staff and operates with its own Board of Trustees, led by Chair Hugh White (appointed June 2026) and CEO Calum Osborne (appointed April 2023).

Name

Nottingham Forest Community Trust

Legal name

Nottingham Forest Community Trust

Website

https://nottinghamforestcommunitytrust.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nottingham Forest Community Trust is a registered charity serving as the official community arm of Nottingham Forest Football Club, delivering football coaching, health, education, and holiday programmes across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It supports children, schools, veterans, and adults through grant-funded and partner-sponsored programmes reaching over 2,000 users weekly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary revenue stream through Department for Education HAF funding (£3.68m combined award), Nottingham City Council commissioning, and Football Foundation grants (£1m for Forest Sports Zone redevelopment).
2. Programme Fees: Course fees for football schools, coaching programmes, and specialist sessions. Bookings processed through website with card payments only.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Partnership funding from organisations like Bally's (principal partner), Ideagen (Think Big), and local businesses. Includes in-kind support and financial contributions.
4. Donations: Charitable donations through Crowdfunder and other fundraising channels. Forest fans raised over £19,000 in 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Nottingham Forest Community Trust is the official charitable arm of Nottingham Forest Football Club, delivering football coaching, health and wellbeing, education, and holiday programmes (including the HAF food and activities programme) to residents of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It also operates the Forest Sports Zone community sports facility and runs school engagement initiatives such as Premier League Primary Stars, Premier League Kicks, and the Think Big tech-careers programme.

Product overview

Nottingham Forest Community Trust operates as the charitable arm of Nottingham Forest Football Club, offering a portfolio of community programmes spanning football coaching (Soccer Schools, Premier League Kicks, Goalkeeper Development), health and wellbeing (Resilient Reds, On & Off the Pitch, Mental Health Sessions, Summer of Wellbeing, Walking Football), education (Premier League Primary Stars, Think Big in partnership with Ideagen), and holiday provision (Holiday Activities & Food with free meals and activities). The Trust also manages Forest Sports Zone/Hub, a major community sports facility serving over 2,000 users weekly. Core programmes are booked through integrated platforms including Bookwhen and Abler, with payment processing via Stripe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forest Sports Zone / Forest Sports Hub: Community sports facility operated by the Trust at Forest Recreation Ground, undergoing £1.9m redevelopment. To be renamed Forest Sports Hub upon completion.
• Resilient Reds
• On & Off the Pitch
• Forest Forces
• Nottingham Forest Official Soccer Schools
• Healthy Horizon Hubs
• Premier League Kicks
• Premier League Primary Stars
• Think Big

Products and services

• Nottingham Forest Official Soccer Schools Holiday football coaching courses for children, including girls-only sessions, delivered at Forest Sports Zone and other venues across Nottinghamshire.
• Mental Health Sessions Mental health support and wellbeing sessions for community members, booking through Abler platform.
• Forest Forces Veterans support programme providing social activities, events, and day trips to tackle isolation and promote healthy, connected lives among Nottinghamshire veterans.
• Goalkeeper Development Specialised goalkeeper coaching and development programme for aspiring keepers of various skill levels.
• Walking Football Slow-paced version of football for over 50s to stay active, make friends, and improve physical and mental wellbeing regardless of football ability.
• Community Football Sessions General community football sessions open to participants of various ages and abilities, promoting physical activity and social inclusion.
• Community Health & Wellbeing Health and wellbeing programmes supporting physical and mental health across the community, including Healthy Horizon Hubs.
• Premier League Kicks Premier League-funded programme using football to engage youngsters in high-need areas with free weekly football sessions and educational workshops for participants aged 8-16 years old, running 4 nights per week.
• On & Off the Pitch Youth programme for teens aged 11-18 combining football coaching with mental health resources, social spaces, and creative activities. Free of charge. Operating as the dedicated youth arm of the Resilient Reds programme.
• Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) Free holiday programme for eligible families providing physical activities (football, hockey, multi-sports), enrichment workshops (drama, arts, STEM), nutritious breakfast and hot lunch for children aged 5-16 during school holidays. Delivered in partnership with Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.
• Resilient Reds Mental health and wellbeing programme providing support across different age groups, with On & Off the Pitch operating as its dedicated teen branch.
• Premier League Primary Stars Premier League-funded programme for primary schools using football to engage pupils in English, Maths, and PE delivery across 18 schools in the city and county.
• Think Big Partnership with Ideagen motivating young people to be excited by technology and inspiring tech career aspirations through workshops, school visits, and City Ground tours. Engaged with 26 schools and over 11,000 pupils.
• Summer of Wellbeing Summer wellness programme promoting health and wellbeing activities during the summer months.
• Forest Sports Zone / Forest Sports Hub Community sports facility at Forest Recreation Ground, the historic site of Nottingham Forest's first official fixture in 1866. Undergoing £1.9m redevelopment to include two all-weather 3G pitches, new community building, and dedicated community area. Welcomes over 2,000 users weekly.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of participants reported improvements in physical wellbeing
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and major.

• Next MovesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Local support partner for On & Off the Pitch programme providing 'Hangout' creative activities and wellbeing support at Arnold sessions.
• Eastwood CFCsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Local community football club partner for On & Off the Pitch programme delivery at Eastwood sessions.
• Support Through SportsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Partner organisation supporting On & Off the Pitch programme delivery for teens.
• Nottinghamshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026County-level HAF programme partner extending reach beyond Nottingham city. Partnership for Forest Forces veteran programme delivery and support.
• Evid ImpactsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Impact measurement partner for development of Impact Reports (2024/25). Assists in quantifying programme outcomes and social value.
• IdeagenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2023Nottingham-based software company partnership for Think Big programme. Provides 40 employee ambassadors as career mentors. Co-creator of online career portal for schools.
• Trent Bridge Community TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2023Joint lead provider for HAF programme with Nottingham City Council. Partnership combines sporting expertise (football and cricket) for comprehensive holiday programme delivery.
• Nottingham City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Primary local government partner for HAF programme delivery. Provides £1.8m+ funding for holiday activities and food programme. Co-funding partner for Forest Sports Zone redevelopment.
• Grassroots Football ClubssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Local football clubs including Basford United, Eastwood CFC, and others serve as venue partners and programme delivery sites.
• Nottingham Forest Football ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Parent football club and sole member organisation. Community Trust serves as the official charitable arm of the club, operating from The City Ground. Club provides brand association, shirt sponsorship on Europa League fixtures, and strategic alignment.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Everton in the Community: Everton FC's official charity delivering health, education, sport, and inclusion programmes across Merseyside. PL peer with comparable school partnership, mental health, and HAF-style delivery.
• Leicester City FC Foundation: Charitable arm of Leicester City FC delivering sport, education, and health programmes across Leicestershire. Mid-tier PL/EFL club trust with similar operating model and regional scope.
• Liverpool FC Foundation: Official charity of Liverpool FC, running sport, education, and community health programmes across Merseyside. Closely comparable PL club trust with similar HAF, Kicks, and school delivery.
• Manchester City FC Foundation: Official charity of Manchester City FC, delivering sport, education, and health programmes across Greater Manchester. Direct peer in scale, PL affiliation, and operating model.
• Manchester United Foundation: Official charity of Manchester United delivering sport, education, and health programmes across Greater Manchester. Direct PL peer at similar scale and programme breadth.
• West Ham United Foundation: Official charity of West Ham United delivering Premier League Kicks, Primary Stars, and health programmes across East London. PL peer with directly comparable programme portfolio.
• Chelsea Foundation: Chelsea FC's community charity delivering football, education, and employability programmes. PL peer with comparable Kicks, Primary Stars, and school-based delivery.
• Newcastle United Foundation: Charitable arm of Newcastle United delivering sport, education, and health programmes across the North East. PL peer with similar school partnership and PL-funded programme mix.
• Arsenal in the Community: Arsenal FC's community arm delivering sport, education, and social inclusion programmes in North London. Direct peer with similar PL-funded programmes and school partnerships.
• Tottenham Hotspur Foundation: Charitable arm of Tottenham Hotspur delivering education, sport, health, and social inclusion programmes in North London. Comparable in programme breadth, PL affiliation, and facility operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NFFC_Community
• Facebookfacebook.com/nottinghamforestcommunitytrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nottinghamforestcommunitytrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/nffc_community

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nottingham Forest Community Trust