LOCAL VOLUNTEERS HONOURED BY SIR TREVOR BROOKING

Volunteers at Rugby Town Junior Football Club (RTJFC) have received recognition from the Football Association (FA) for their work and dedication. This evening (Thursday 3 May 2007), 163 volunteers received certificates from Sir Trevor Brooking, FA Director of Football Development, at a special presentation ceremony held at the club’s new home on Kilsby Lane in the town.

RTJFC has been running for 12 years and currently has approximately 700 members (children under 18 years old). Its general “ Football for All” message means that any one of any ability can play football. In addition it has close working links with and encourages community groups and schools to participate in and enjoy the game of football. The club’s volunteers play a vital role, offering services such as organised structured coaching and running after school clubs. RTJFC members play in approximately 47 teams in five different leagues.

The club’s modern facilities, consisting of nine mini soccer pitches, two intermediate pitches, two full size pitches, and a pavilion (incorporating eight changing rooms, three officials rooms, a first aid room, an equipment store, teaching rooms and a social area), were only completed in December 2006 and were made possible by support from a number of Landfill Communities Fund grants via Warwickshire Environmental Trust. These included two grants totalling £98,685 from Biffaward, £181,603 from Onyx (Veolia), £15,000 from the RMC Community Fund, £15,000 from the Cemex Community Fund and £4,359 from Lafarge.

Martin Bettington, Chairman of Biffaward, said: “The volunteers involved in this project play a vital role in the club’s success as a valuable community facility – it is only fitting that they have been honoured in this way.”

Louise Boffey, Trust Administrator at Warwickshire Environmental Trust, said: "It means a great deal to all the volunteers involved to have their contributions recognised in this way, and we are very grateful that Sir Trevor has given his support to this.”

Biffa provides a range of public sector, commercial and industrial waste collection services as well as the management of 33 operational landfill sites across the UK. The multi-million pound a year Biffaward fund has been set up, using tax charged on waste taken into landfill sites, to help finance environmental projects.