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2024-09-30-accounts

Activity Report Year ending 30.09.2024

The Stones Community Trust: Official Charity of Maidstone United Football Club

Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

Stones in the Community 2

Contents

Contents
Foreword 03
Funding 04
Projects 05
MindSTONES 05
U11 Boys Football Tournaments 06
October 2023 06
September 2024 07
U11 Girls Football Tournament 09
Primary FitSTONES 10
Fit4Life 11
Schools Out Holiday Club 12
October 2023 12
December 2023/January 2024 13
February 2024 14
April 2024 15
May 2024 16
July - August 2024 17
Maidstone United Raiders FC 20
WalkingSTONES 22
FitSTONES 23
WildCATS 24
FAWrient Express 25
Miscellaneous 26
SITC development 27
Staff and training 27
Branding and communications 28
Academic partnerships 29
Summary 30

Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

Stones in the Community 3

Foreword

We first started dreaming of setting up a Charitable Trust some ten years ago under the leadership of our two Mikes, Littleboy and Cogger, who have been the mainstay of the Stones work in the wider community for many years. Little did I think that we would grow into such a dynamic and flourishing community organisation so quickly.

Today, we are rolling out a wide range of projects across all sectors of the local community and bringing much appreciated joy and happiness to a huge number of people. This work is being consolidated by our growing SITC team year on year and we are always looking to develop new projects where they could be beneficial and where they can be funded. I hope you will look through this report and see the details for yourself.

I thank the two Mikes and all the many SITC staff, Trustees and Volunteer colleagues for all their hard work to make this happen. They can be immensely proud of what has been achieved. So can the supporters of Maidstone United FC, who know that a football club is so much more than just the first teams. The Stones are as active as possible to improve the quality of life in the local community and long may it continue.

Oliver Ash

Joint-Owner Maidstone United FC Trustee of Stones In The Community

Introduction

The Stones Community Trust (SCT) is Maidstone United FC’s non-profit making charity for delivering various community projects in the Maidstone area. The SCT is a CIO, has seven trustees and is registered at The Charity Commission under registration number 1184274. From 1 October 2023, we started to trade as Stones In The Community (SITC).

The SCT has been in existence since 2018. It is independent financially and operationally from the Club. The Trust now has 2 full time employees as well as a part time Community Development Officer. SCT is funded solely by Grants from various bodies and Sponsorship from community and corporate partners. It also governs disabled sport within Maidstone United Raiders (more than 200 junior and adult members) as well as Walking Football (more than 60 members aged over 50).

Our objective: to provide activity and interventions in support of the people of Maidstone in areas of Wellbeing and Health; Sporting development activity and social interaction. We also provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.

Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

Stones in the Community 4

Funding

Funding for our activities during this financial year was received from numerous organisations including:

Funds from many schools (for coaching) including:

Maidstone United FC

The National League Trust The Education People (HAF) Five Acre Wood Kent County Council Maidstone and Malling Bellway Homes Alternative Provision Golding Homes The Discovery School Greenfields Safer Kent Harrietsham Swale Community Leisure Hunton CSIS Lenham Kent FA North Borough Involve Kent Oaks Maidstone Borough Council Palace Wood Wellbeing People Park Way Waitrose. Senacre Snodland South Borough Swingate Primary Tiger Tree Tops VIAT East Borough Wateringbury.

Other donations were received from:

Mrs Martin

Mrs Varney Barry Clark and Herbie Paul Jackson Simon Gillham Oliver Ash Jacob Smith Loughborough University Students

Morrisons Supermarkets Civil Service Sports Club Cohesion Design Oaks Primary Academy.

From membership, training fees and donations:

Much Loved Wildcats MindSTONES Maidstone United Raiders Maidstone United Walking Football

Coaches, parents and players who bought from our café during the Boys and Girls Tournaments.

Raiders have also received funding from:

Riveroak iTech Knapp Europa Sport CSSC Sports and Leisure G4S

Burning Leaf Creatives iTech Lounge Season Ticket Holders

Reece van Sertima’s family.

The Trustees offer huge thanks to all organisations who have supported our activities this year.

Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

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Projects

MindSTONES – a Head In The Game Legacy Project

Tournament in Maidstone in December 2023 to generate some income for MindSTONES.

About 2 years ago, SITC took over a Men’s Mental Health and Wellbeing programme from Head In The Game (HITG) which we renamed as MindSTONES, a Head In The Game Legacy Project.

80 at Valley Park School in Maidstone. We have 26 registered for Mondays and 28 registered for Thursdays. They are coached by 5 highly trained and unpaid volunteers. That’s 2,808 places this year!

MindSTONES links with other Head in the Game legacy projects by playing friendly matches to create a wide network of like-minded players. A 6-a-side tournament was held at the Gallagher Stadium on 21 July 2024 involving teams from MindSTONES, Head in the Game coaches and legacy projects from Dartford, Medway, Sevenoaks and Sittingbourne. The tournament was a great success and it is hoped it will become an annual event.

Each session provides a safe space for participants to talk, receive support from their friends within the group and actively participate in physical exercise which has a positive impact on their mental wellbeing. The session leaders are all previous MindSTONES and/or Head in the Game participants.

The MindSTONES free to participant sessions have gone from strength to strength in the last financial year. MindSTONES now run two separate free to participant sessions each week, enabling them to cater for more participants, with new members continuing to register. SITC have been funding MindSTONES ourselves which now runs sessions each Monday and Thursday evening for men aged 18 to

SITC offer a big thank you to Jacob Smith and Loughborough University Students who organised and ran a

HITG filming

During March 2024, we were asked by HITG if we could help record some video for their final submission to The National Lottery Community Fund. We were pleased to assist – click the link below to go to the final version containing Colin Jones and Mike Littleboy of SITC as posted on our website.

Creating a legacy - SITC - click to read more...

Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

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Projects continued

Under 11 Boys Football Tournaments

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36 primary schools or around 360 footballers
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October 2023

On Monday 9 October 2023, 36 of Maidstone’s Primary School Teams (Allington, Archbishop Courtenay, Barming, Boughton Monchelsea, Brunswick House, Coxheath, East Peckham, Greenfields, Harrietsham, Holy Family, Hunton, King’s Hill, Langley Park, Leeds and Broomfield CEP School, Platts Heath, Ulcombe, Kingswood, Lenham, Loose, More Park, North Borough, Oaks, Offham, Palace Wood, Park Way, Roseacre, Sandling, Senacre Wood, Snodland, South Borough, St Francis, St Johns, The Discovery School, Tiger, Tree Tops, VIPS East Borough, VIPS Holborough Lakes, VIPS Leybourne Chase, West Borough) or around 360 male footballers took part in our UEFA Champions League Tournament at The Gallagher Stadium with a chance of representing Maidstone United at the South-East Regional finals. The Discovery School, representing Shaktar Donetsk played More Park Catholic Primary School representing Young Boys in the Final and eventually won a tense affair 2 – 0.

Thanks to the students from Valley Park School and Maplesden Noakes who attended as helpers on the day.

Funding for this Event was kindly provided by CSIS, Bellway, The National League Trust and Wellbeing People. Thanks also to our partners at Europa Sports, Burning Leaf and Urban Blue.

The Discovery School progressed to the South East Regional Finals at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead Stadium on Thursday 25 January 2024. A great effort by the boys from The Discovery School saw them make it to the Semi-Finals but losing 2-1 to

Eastbourne and just missing out on going to the South Regional Finals.

more...

Put it on the fridge - NLT South East Regional Tournement - click to read more...

The Discovery School (Boys) and South Borough Primary School (Girls).

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Projects continued

Under 11 Boys Football Tournaments

September 2024

Our Annual Boys U11 Schools Tournament took place on Monday 23 September 2024 at The Gallagher Stadium and coincided with the International Day of Peace. We had been approached by the International Children’s Football Alliance to twin the Gallagher Stadium with the International Peace Field, located at Messines in Flanders, Belgium. This formed the theme for the tournament which involved 360 enthusiastic young footballers in 36 Maidstone Primary Schools.

Messines is one of the sites where, in the Great War 1914-1918, soldiers on both sides left their trenches in several local truces, joining together in ‘No-mans land’

and play impromptu games of football. The Gallagher Stadium is built on the site of the old parade ground of the First Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, who fought in one of the first significant engagements of the Great War at the Battle of Mons in Belgium. In nearby Tertre, a plinth is located to honour the bravery of the men of the RWK. All 36 schools taking art were allocated a country to represent each of the signatories to the International Peace Treaty. Having been presented with their country flag, they then paraded around the pitch with their flag before the tournament was officially opened by the Maidstone Mayor, Cllr John Perry.

The 36 schools were Allington, Archbishop Courtenay, Barming, Bredhurst CEP School, Brunswick House, Coxheath, East Peckham, Greenfields, Harrietsham, Holy Family, Hunton, King’s Hill, Langley Park, Lenham, Loose, Madginford, Marden, North Borough, Oaks, Palace Wood, Park Way, Roseacre, Sandling, Senacre Wood, Snodland, South Borough, St Johns, St Katherine’s, St Mark’s CoE, St Michaels CEJ School, The Discovery School, Tunstall, VIPS Aylesford, VIPS East Borough, VIPS Leybourne Chase and West Borough.

more...

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36 primary schools or around 360 footballers
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Projects continued

Under 11 Boys Football Tournaments

This tournament, part of the National League Trusts UK competition, offered the chance for Loose to go forward representing Maidstone United at the South East Regional Finals.

At lunch surrounded by some young players, Maidstone and Malling MP Helen Grant, on behalf of the CFA, presented Maidstone United with a commemorative plaque, replicating that already in place in the Flanders field and a peace declaration was jointly signed by CFA and Maidstone United. “Twinning” the Gallagher with the Peace field in Flanders.

A huge well done to Loose Primary School, whose boys won the U11s National League Trust (NLT) South East Regional Tournament on 13 March 2025 and make their way to the Southern Regional Tournament.

The finalists were Sandling Primary School representing Slovenia and Loose Primary School representing Greece. This was an extremely competitive match with skill and quality shown by both teams. The 4-0 final winning score gave Loose victory making them the International Day of Peace Champions. This tournament, part of the National League Trusts UK competition, offers the chance for Loose to go forward representing Maidstone United at the South East Regional Finals in January 2025.

Congratulations and commiserations to Loose Primary School who were beaten 2-1 in the final of the NLT Southern Finals Tournament on 1 April 2025 at Arbour Park, Slough FC. The boys were placed first in their group (out of 6) but came up against St Albans FC and lost 2-1, just missing out on the National Finals on the hallowed Wembley turf. Huge congratulations goes to the boys and their coach – Louis Corcoran.

Thanks to the students from Maidstone United Academy, Valley Park School and Aylesford who attended as helpers on the day.

SITC funded this year’s tournament but we wish to thank Morrisons Supermarkets for the donation of 360 bottles of water to keep young players hydrated during the event.

U11 Boys International Day of Peace Tournament - click to read more...

U11s NLT Regional Tournament - click to read more...

U11s NLT Southern Finals Tournament - click to read more...

U11 Boys International Day of Peace Tournament winners Loose Primary School.

Helen Grant MP OBE and Bob Gouldson, Operations Director, Maidstone United sign the twining agreement.

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Projects continued

Under 11 Girls Football Tournament

October 2023

On Monday 16 October 2023, 30 of Maidstone’s Primary School Teams (Allington, Boughton Monchelsea, Coxheath, Greenfields, Harrietsham, Holy Family, Hunton, King’s Hill, Langley Park, Lenham, Loose, Marden, More Park, North Borough, Offham, Palace Wood, Park Way, Roseacre, Senacre, Snodland, South Borough, St Francis, St Johns, The Discovery School, Tiger, Tree Tops, VIPS Aylesford, VIPS East Borough, VIPS Leybourne Chase, West Borough) or around 300 female footballers took part in Under 11s Girls Champions League Tournament at The Gallagher Stadium.

South Borough Primary School progressed to the South East Regional Finals at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead Stadium on Thursday 25 January 2024. A great effort by the Girls from South Borough saw them finish 3rd in their Group missing out by only 1 point from getting to the South Regional Finals.

Thanks to the students from Valley Park School and Maplesden Noakes who attended as helpers on the day.

Funding for this Event was kindly provided by CSIS, Bellway, The National League Trust and Wellbeing People. Thanks also to our partners at Europa Sports, Burning Leaf and Urban Blue.

South Borough Primary School (Barcelona) were crowned Champions beating The Discovery School (Paris FC) 3-2 in the final after extra time. They went on to represent Maidstone United in the U11 National League Cup 2024 South East Regional Finals.

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30 primary schools or around 300 footballers
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Put it on the fridge - NLT South East Regional Tournement - click to read more...

The Discovery School (Boys) and South Borough Primary School (Girls).

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Projects continued

Primary FitSTONES

SITC provided football and multi-sports coaching at 18 local primary schools during this financial year. These sessions took place at The Discovery School, Greenfields, Harrietsham, Hunton, Lenham, Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision, North Borough, Oaks, Palace Wood, Park Way, Senacre, Snodland, South Borough, Swingate Primary, Tiger, Tree Tops, VIAT East Borough and Wateringbury.

We also provided coaching and specialist kit and equipment at the special educational needs school Five Acre Wood and their 5 centres in and around Maidstone. Part funding of this initiative was provided by CSIS.

We also provided referees for various tournaments for Maidstone Borough primary schools, most of which took place at Greenfields Community Primary School. We even held and provided officials for the U11s Girls Maidstone Primary Schools Cup Final at The Gallagher Stadium in May 2024 and for the U11s Boys Maidstone Primary Schools Cup Final at The Gallagher Stadium in July 2024.

Funding for these sessions was either provided free of charge, from school funds and/or by parents. Maidstone United Academy via B&B Coaching helped us by providing some of the coaches for this programme.

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Projects continued

Fit4Life @ Valley Park

From September 2023, we worked at VIAT Valley Park School delivering a Fit4Life programme offering educational teaching and football coaching for 2 and 3 days a week for disengaged youngsters, aged 11 to 16 years old. Over the duration of this course, all students who took part benefitted from attending. It has had a positive effect on their behaviour and overall school life.

Our programme included two student Year groups: Year 8 cohort consisting of 12 pupils on a Tuesday; and Year 9 cohort consisting of 13 pupils on a Thursday. From Term 5, we were also instructed to attend each Wednesday to carry out 1 to 1 reviews and class supervision of pupils involved in our programme. In the Year 8 cohort, students overall attendance was positively affected by 83% thanks to our programme. In the Year 9 cohort, 69% of the 13 students had an increase in attendance levels.

This was fully funded with thanks by VIAT Valley Park. Maidstone United Academy via B&B Coaching and Nathan Baker helped us with delivery of this particular programme.

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Projects continued

Schools Out free activities club

We have been running this Programme during school holidays and half terms since our existence in 2018. The clubs are located in three locations across Maidstone; Shepway, Parkwood and Tovil.

Tovil location

Shepway location Parkwood location

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October 2023
Venue Programme duration Places provided
Greenfields Community Primary School 4 days 207 with free snacks
South Borough Primary School 4 days 96 with free snacks
VIPS @ East Borough Primary School 3 days 89 with free snacks
Total places provided 392
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Projects continued

Schools Out free activities club

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December 2023 - January 2024 (Christmas/New Year)
Venue Programme duration Places provided
Greenfields Community Primary School 4 days 99 with free hot meals and snacks
South Borough Primary School 4 days 70 with free hot meals and snacks
Tree Tops Primary Academy 2 days 127 with free hot meals and snacks
Total places provided 296
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Projects continued

Schools Out free activities club

February 2024 Venue Programme duration Places provided Greenfields Community Primary School 4 days 144 with free snacks South Borough Primary School 3 days 114 with free snacks Total places provided 258

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Projects continued

Schools Out free activities club

April 2024 (Easter)

April 2024 (Easter) April 2024 (Easter) April 2024 (Easter)
Venue Programme duration Places provided
Greenfelds Community Primary School 4 days 161 with free hot meals and snacks
South Borough Primary School 4 days 141 with free hot meals and snacks
Total places provided 302

Due to building works, we were unable to run any courses at Tree Tops Primary Academy in Parkwood, Maidstone ME15 during Easter 2024.

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Projects continued

Schools Out free activities club

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May 2024
Venue Programme duration Places provided
Greenfields Community Primary School 3 days 143 with free snacks
South Borough Primary School 3 days 108 with free snacks
Total places provided 251
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Projects continued

Schools Out free activities club

During Summer 2024, between and including 22 July 2024 to 22 August 2024, we ran 16 days (mostly 4 weeks; 4 days per week) at all our sites (Greenfields Community Primary School in Shepway, Tree Tops Primary Academy in Parkwood and at South Borough Primary School in Tovil) for our Schools Out Holiday Clubs.

more...

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Projects continued

Schools Out free activities club

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July - August 2024 (Summer)
Venue Programme duration Places provided (HAF and Non HAF)
Greenfields Community Primary School 4 weeks x 4 days (16) 1,092 with free hot meals and snacks
South Borough Primary School 4 weeks x 4 days (16) 774 with free hot meals and snacks
Tree Tops Primary Academy 4 weeks x 4 days (16) 639 with free hot meals and snacks
Total places provided 2,505
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more...
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Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

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Projects continued

Schools Out free activities club

From October 2023 to end of August 2024, we provided around 4,004 registered places at our Schools Out programme.

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Projects continued

Maidstone United Raiders FC

Maidstone United Raiders FC are part of the SCT/SITC. It has expanded and continues to grow. Celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2024, Raiders continues to offer football opportunities for children and adults who have a disability or mental health condition. With 20 teams across the junior and adult sections, over 200 players are given the opportunity to take part in monthly tournaments with other teams across the county in the Kent Disability Football League (KDFL). We have two all-female teams – we are the only club in the KDFL to have women’s teams playing in a predominantly male league.

SITC and in particular Raiders go beyond offering just football experiences by having a greater reach and impact across the local community:

Raiders reach 20 - click to read more...

more...

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Projects continued

Maidstone United Raiders FC

grow the game as well as another Club set up a disability team and mentoring them so they could join the Kent Disability Football League.

Overall, Raiders continues to grow and is being recognised locally, regionally and nationally as one of the best pan-disability clubs in England.

Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

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Projects continued

Walking Football

Maidstone United Walking Football Club (WalkingSTONES) are an active member of the SITC providing football for around 40 male players of advancing years who still have a love of the game. The section runs fun training sessions at the YMCA on a Friday evening along with having competitive teams in the 50+ and 60+ age groups in the Kent League. It also has a social side to the club where regular nights out are arranged for the players and their partners. Just the training sessions alone (not including League games) involve 2,080 participants over the year!

We have run a very popular 6-a-side Walking Football tournament for the last 3 years including one at The Gallagher on Saturday 27 April 2024 involving 23 teams (138 participants) from all over London, Surrey, Kent and Sussex. That’s 2,218 participants over the year! WalkingSTONES used the funds raised to donate money to the SITC to help with the fantastic causes it supports in and around Maidstone.

WalkingSTONES have received sponsorship from Cohesion Design.

WalkingSTONES Tournament 2024 - click to read more...

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Projects continued

FitSTONES

FitSTONES is a weekly exercise and wellbeing course in partnership with Strictly Fitness, Energise Fitness and Wellbeing People. A total of 134 places were provided for our FitSTONES programme. The cohorts gained a combined total of 34 wellbeing years by completing our FitSTONES 6 course. Results for FitSTONES 7 are still to be determined.

FitSTONES 6

We ran one complete 13-week programme in 2023/2024 aiming to improve men and women’s wellbeing, fitness, provide lifestyle guidance, weight and nutritional guidance. FitSTONES 6 took place between September and December 2023 and involved 13 weeks’ work for 8 participants, a total of 104 places provided. This cohort gained 34 wellbeing years by completing this course.

FitSTONES 7

FitSTONES 7 commenced in September 2024 at Hermitage Park Community Centre and in December 2024 and involved 13 weeks’ work for 10 participants who completed the course; a total of 30 places provided in this financial year.

FitSTONES 7 was partly supported by Maidstone Borough Council through their Community Resilience Fund. Thanks also to Swale Community Leisure for their help with venue hire at Hermitage Park Community Centre.

Habits for Health, just what the doctor ordered - click to read more...

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Projects continued

WildCATS

Since Summer 2023, we have been running a 1 hour programme each Monday evening to encourage young girls (5 to 11 year old) to participate in football. This is a paid initiative and runs from The Gallagher. There were around 30 girls playing each week – this is for girls who don’t belong to a team but just wish to come along and play football in a safe and secure environment with their friends. This is partnered with Maidstone United Women’s and Girls section as well as Kent FA. It was important to ensure that we could cater for all girls to take part and join Maidstone United FC.

From September 2024 , we continued for a second year of our 1 hour programme each Monday evening to encourage young girls to participate in football. This is a paid initiative and runs from The Gallagher. The Wildcats went on to form the new U10 and U12 Girls Maidstone United Women’s and Girls teams for the 2024/25 season.

We also put through 5 young players through their coaching badges and 5 on their Duke of Edinburgh Award by volunteering in Wildcats so increasing female coaches in the game. Some players have now also gone on to manage teams within Maidstone United and also help out in the HAF holiday clubs coaching.

We also took the girls to Wembley on 5 April 2024 to see England v Sweden in the European Qualifiers, UEFA Women's EURO 2025.

WildCATS now are Maidstone United U10s in the Women’s and Girls section

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Projects continued

FAWrient Express

SITC were able to provide a 64ft 1970’s first class buffet car to Five Acre Wood School (Special Needs) in Maidstone. At the end of September 2024, the Costa Coffee train carriage was officially opened by the CEO of Costa. The FAWrient Express is being used as an employability pathway for FAW’s students. The FAWrient Express is open to the public, 5 days a week, from 9.30am to 4pm.

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Projects continued

Miscellaneous

The SCT/SITC sponsored the Maidstone & District Schools Girls U11s team and provided some training kit.

We also donated funds to some of Maidstone United’s Academy (supported by Cornwallis Academy) coaches to purchase SCT/SITC branded training kit and essential equipment so they could work in schools. We also put some of the coaches through an FA Level 1 coaching course. We also attended some School Fetes to widen the name of The SCT/SITC.

Thanks to Safer Kent, we were able to support KCC’s Care Leavers event at Mote Park on 26 June 2024 where we ran some football activities for young adults who were leaving care and on to their next journey in life. It was a great opportunity to network with other people, with the chance of building more relationships. This is where we met people from KCC’s Family Hubs. After invitation, we attended a number of KCC’s Family Hub events in Shepway.

Thanks to Involve Kent, we were able to provide 1-2-1 coaching for one of our Raiders teams – which was really happy with the extra sessions.

We met with Young Lives Foundation and One Maidstone BID and are working on new programmes.

We also attended the Olympic Fair at St Francis RC Primary School.

We were invited to the Five Acre Wood Festival on 23 July 2024 known as Woodstock – a great day was had by all.

After the success of MUFC’s Men’s FA Cup run, we were able to attend assemblies in different primary schools around Maidstone, to promote the amazing

achievement the men’s team accomplished. We also took different first team players and the Manager (George Elokobi) to speak about their personal journey throughout their FA cup run, as well as, showing the children the FA cup video about Maidstone United.

Maidstone United FC have an amazing stadium and facility. We have been able to bring many local primary schools down to the Gallagher, where they have been able to have a tour of the stadium. A few times, the men’s first team have been training and the children were able to watch as well as have conversations and signed autographs from the players, George Elokobi and Craig Fagan.

MADM (Making A Difference to Maidstone) is a small Christian charity that supports and offers help to individuals and families who find themselves in crisis. We were asked if we could open their refurbished shop. We were able to take Bivesh Gurung and Lenny Holden from MUFC first team, who were more than happy to cut the ribbon and open the newly refurbished shop.

Lorraine Humm and Tori Campbell have worked together to provide and deliver food to the local food bank in Shepway, Maidstone. This is taking the goods which have been kindly donated at Maidstone United Men’s home games. This was a successful programme and food was being donated a couple of times a month.

We even provided the Easter Bunny at the Men’s Home Game on 1 April 2024 and handed out free eggs!!

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SITC development Staff and training

Tori Campbell (Operations Manager) joined SITC as our first full time employee in April 2024. Tori was chosen for Next Gen appointment - Stones Community Trust

Harry Strike (Assistant Community Development Officer) joined SITC as our second full time employee in September 2024. Lorraine Humm continues in her part time role as Community Development Officer.

In addition to these full-time appointments we also appointed Paul Bailes as Marketing Consultant, working on a volunteer basis, along with his company Cohesion Design (on a pro bono basis) to assist us with with our marketing and digital communications. The team are tasked with developing and growing our Charity.

During the financial year, we continued to provide access to training for our delivery Partners as well as ensuring they had the appropriate DBS and safeguarding certificates in place.

A number of key personnel also took the Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Lead training to enable us to further help young people with the programmes that we deliver.

Schools Out summer staff completed courses in safeguarding as well as food allergy awareness, food hygiene, mental health awareness as well as first aid. We are now also 5* according to MBC’s Environmental Health Department at all of our 3 venues.

We have had numerous networking teams calls with those involved with the National League Trust in and around the South East. This has been a great opportunity to build a relationship and potential partnerships with other Club Community Trusts (CCT) including Tonbridge Angels, Ebbsfleet, Southend, Eastbourne, Sutton and Worthing. In July 2024, all CCT’s attended an NLT conference day at Brentford FC to discuss development & growth, finances and other programme initiatives etc. This was a great opportunity to speak to other CCT’s about some of the successful programmes/projects they currently run, to see if we at SITC can do something similar.

The Trustees wish to thank each and every staff member and all the many volunteers for all your help in developing The SCT/SITC into what it is today and what it will be in the future.

more...

Tori Campbell, Stones Community Trust Harry Strike, Assistant Community Operations Manager Development Officer.

Tori chosen for Next Gen appointment - click to read more...

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SITC development continued

Branding and communications

During this financial year, SITC having reviewed our branding and communications identified a need to improved our communications, especially digitally on social media. In looking to do this we realised that our brand also needed a refresh in order to speak directly to our audience.

To undertake this work we engaged Cohesion Design who agreed to work on a pro bono basis. They refreshed our identity while ensuing there was a direct link back to the club and then went on to redesign and build us a new website and begin work trying to imporve our reach and presence on social media.

There is so much work especially behind the scenes, that goes into marketing a charity these days and thanks to Paul and Suzanna at Cohesion Design, most of that work is on an unpaid volunteer basis. The Trustees offer a huge thanks to Cohesion Design.

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Organisation Community engagement
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Food Larders Football for disabled children and adults If available
Supporting families in Shepway, Parkwood and Trinity Stones Raiders provides footballing opportunities for adults and children who have disabilities or mental health difficulties, in a fun friendly and supportive environment.
Keep up to date with all our news by following the WhatsApp. Get all our updates direct to SITC News Channel on Shepway and Parkwood Community Larders are thrilled to have the fantastic, continued support of Maidstone Football Club & Stones in the Community. We are humbled by the amount of generous donations from your supporters... Ann Mansfield, Maidstone Borough Council. Established in 2004, we offer PAN disability footballing opportunities to both children and adults in a fun and supportive environment. As proud members of the Kent Disability Football League we have teams in every division and are defending champions of several of them.
your phone. Simply scan the QR code
above or click the updates button in the App and search for SITC News in Channels. your help. Please donate dry goods and tinned In these challenging times we continue to need food if you are able. Scan the QR code opposite to register your interest or email us at lorraine.humm @stonesinthecommunity.org.
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Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

Stones in the Community 29

SITC development continued

Academy partnership

We had numerous Maidstone United Academy players (supported by Cornwallis Academy) working with us to assist delivery of our programmes; we want to continue to develop this relationship over the next financial year.

Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

Stones in the Community 30

Summary

We are extremely pleased with all the activities that The SCT/SITC has undertaken to Year Ending 30 September 2024. We helped and made positive changes to so many people from the Maidstone Community.

The change in personnel in April/September 2024 has re-energised to develop and grow The SCT/SITC to be the premier provider in Maidstone.

For the latest information on the SCT/SITC, please click the link: stonesinthecommunity.org

Keep in touch for first hand news by following us on our WhatsApp channel SITC News. Simply scan the QR code to follow.

SITC News WhatsApp Channel

The Trustees of The Stones Community Trust For Year Ending 30 September 2024 End of Activity Report.

Activity Report year ending 30.09.2024

Stones in the Community 31

The Stones Community Trust Gallagher Stadium James Whatman Way Maidstone Kent ME14 1LQ Tel: 01622 606449 Registered charity number: 1184274 © The Stones Community Trust, 2025

stonesinthecommunity.org

stones in the community stonescommunitytrust The Stones Community Trust

The Stones Community Trust

Profit and Loss Accounts from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024

Profit and Loss Account as at 30 September 2024

Totals
Income
National League Trust £ 20,000.00
The Education People (HAF) £ 52,498.72
Bellway Homes £ 2,000.00
Safer Kent £ 360.00
Waitrose £ 1,250.00
CSIS £ 2,100.00
Maidstone Borough Council (FitStones 7) £ 1,691.00
Maidstone Borough Council (Schools Out) £ 2,500.00
Golding Homes £ 3,000.00
Snack Bar (Tournaments) £ 842.99
FitStones 6 £ 236.95
Primary FitStones £ 20,862.50
VP Fit4Life £ 10,600.00
Involve Kent £ 720.00
Wildcats £ 4,391.00
Schools Out Donations £ 70.00
Donations £ 2,533.88
HITG Legacy/MindStones £ 309.04
Walking Football £ 1,640.00
MU Raiders FC £ 10,185.37
Total Income £ 137,791.45
Expenditure
Staff Costs inc Payroll, HMRC -£ 32,983.97
Office Costs -£ 1,997.86
Facility Hire -£ 7,337.00
IT/Auditors/KCFA -£ 4,687.91
Coaching incl FitStones -£ 26,603.00
Schools Out Helpers -£ 39,372.56
Refereeing -£ 1,660.00
Kit, Certificates, Equipment & Medals -£ 5,714.97
Resources inc Schools Out Food -£ 14,570.11
Walking Football -£ 1,620.00
MU Raiders FC -£ 9,179.86
HITG Legacy/MindStones -£ 4,560.57
Total Expenditure -£ 150,287.81
2023/2024 Deficit -£ 12,496.36
RECONCILE CASH POSITION
Actual Cash Position at Bank as at 1 October 2023 £ 37,472.43
Actual Cash Position at Bank as at 30 September 2024 £ 24,976.07
Less Monies Yet to be Paid £ -
£ 24,976.07
Balance: -£ 12,496.36

The Stones Community Trust

Independent Examiner's Report

To The Trustees Of The Stones Community Trust

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Stones Community Trust for the year ended 30 September 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. The accounts do not accord with those records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Loucas

Loucas Chartered Certified Accountants The Carriage House Mill Street Maidstone Kent ME15 6YE

Dated: 25 November 2024