The Preston North End Community and Education Trust management team last week met with Member of Parliament for Preston Sir Mark Hendrick to discuss the work of the Trust and other club community organisations in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Trust has expanded its provision to support the needs of the Preston community, both before and as a result of the current crisis, with several food provision initiatives and programmes supporting the elderly and isolated launched to support those most in need.
PNECET also earned recognition for its response to the pandemic, being awarded the North West Football Awards’ ‘Community Club of the Season – All Other Leagues’ prize in November last year.
In an extended meeting via Zoom, the Trust’s senior leadership team spoke with Sir Mark about how the Trust has operated during the pandemic, while continuing to provide services of high-quality to benefit the local community.
Sir Mark Hendrick said: “It was great to meet the leadership team at Preston North End Community and Education Trust.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the enormous amount of work that’s being done in the community to help throughout the Coronavirus crisis. From food parcels, to Christmas hampers to online sessions on health and wellbeing, the Trust and its volunteers have become an invaluable source of support and assistance, especially this past year.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have been providing support, particularly to the most vulnerable communities and young people in Preston and I hope to thank them in person, once things get back to normal.”
Head of community Tom Drake added: “It was a pleasure to speak with Sir Mark Hendrick about our work over the last year and how this has benefitted our local community.
“We already have a great working relationship with the Preston City Council, whom we have worked alongside on many of our community response initiatives following the pandemic to great effect.
“We’re really pleased to have had the opportunity to virtually meet Sir Mark and share ideas about how the Trust can provide the best possible service to the people of Preston, both as we continue to navigate through the pandemic and beyond.”