Preston North End Community and Education Trust has been nominated for the Sustainability and Community Award in TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2020.
The nomination comes for the Trust’s Big PNE Sleep Out efforts, an event organised together with Biffa, Blog Preston and the Foxton Centre – raising funds for the latter organisation, a Preston charity, to buy and renovate a house for the use of homeless people.
The house will be bought under the Foxton’s Housing First initiative, which will also provide homeless people in Preston with work experience and opportunities to build life skills.
Launched in 2010, TheStadiumBusiness Awards were the first industry awards for the stadium sector, by the stadium sector.
The Sustainability and Community category is awarded to the individual, team or venue that has achieved success in the pursuit of sustainable venue management.
PNECET Head of Community Tom Drake said: “We are delighted to have been nominated in the Sustainability and Community Award category at TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2020, for the Big PNE Sleep Out event.
“Ourselves, Biffa, Blog Preston and the Foxton Centre worked together for the organisation of the Sleep Out, which was a great success with more than £80,000 raised for the Foxton Centre to buy and renovate a house in Preston for the use of homeless people.
“Not only that, but it was fantastic to see more than 300 people taking part in the event on the night and with thousands more donating to the Sleep Out appeal, there was so much community spirit generated through this charitable effort.
“It is now brilliant to be recognised for the use of Deepdale for this community event with the nomination for TheStadiumBusiness’ Sustainability and Community Award.”
Ian Nuttall, founder, TheStadiumBusiness said: “Now in their second decade, TheStadiumBusiness Awards continue to recognise leadership, innovation and achievement in the delivery, operation and management of sports facilities globally.
"The record number of entries this year reinforces the fact that our industry is alive with new ideas and new approaches. Venues cannot simply take fans for granted. Instead, we are seeing the industry’s best facilities continue to reinvent their offer and enhance the fan experience.
“For 2020, we have an amazing shortlist of nominees across the categories.
“Our expert Judging Panel will have its work cut out determining a single winner in each category ahead of our 20 April ceremony.
“Meanwhile, our congratulations to all the finalists for making it this far – they are all winners for our industry.”
Also nominated in the Sustainability and Community category are sports and organisations teams from across the world.
These include: Sydney Cricket Ground and Biopak for their Compostable Packaging Initiative; Queens Park Rangers FC and the Kiyan Prince Foundation for the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium; the US Bank Stadium for the First LEED Platinum certification for sports venue O+M, and Pepsi Center and Kroenke Sports and Entertainment for the “Infinitely Recyclable” aluminium cup.