Maidenhead United FC Community Trust - Wellbeing Update

The Maidenhead United FC Community Trust has recently received confirmation from the Royal Borough of Windsor of Maidenhead that the annual funding we receive from them towards our Wellbeing Support Service will not continue when our current funding agreement finishes at the end of May 2025. 

 

Our Wellbeing Support Service currently provides vital, personalised support for some of the most vulnerable people within our local community, with the objective of helping them overcome the challenges that impact their emotional and physical wellbeing. The service is delivered by our small team of Wellbeing Support Co-ordinators who are fantastically supported by our team of amazing volunteers. 

 

We have been able to operate this specialised community support programme because of the of the annual funding commitments from RBWM and the NHS of £40,000 and £30,000 respectively, which has enabled us to improve the quality of life of hundreds of local people. 

 

We are of course very aware of the financial challenges the local authority is experiencing and understand of the reasons why it is unable to continue its funding contribution. However, this decision is devastating given the impact and benefits we know the service delivers to so many across our local community. 

 

In this context, late last year, the Trustees of the Maidenhead United FC Community Trust undertook a detailed review of our Wellbeing Support Service, including the Wellbeing Circles initiative funded by the NHS, for which we also do not have a current commitment for funding beyond the end of March this year. The Trustees also took into account the increasing difficulties of managing the diverse needs of some of the individuals the Trust was being asked to assist. 

 

Given these circumstances, the Trustees made the decision to refocus the wellbeing work of the Community Trust and close the Wellbeing Support Service from the end of March this year. This was clearly an incredibly difficult decision, which we understand is heartbreaking for all those involved. However, as a charitable organisation, we simply do not have the financial resources available to us to underwrite the ongoing delivery of the service without significant additional funding. 

 

As you would expect our focus over the next three months is to ensure we have a managed closure of the service, with our priority being to ensure that all of our existing referrals remain supported during this period and are provided with alternative support solutions. 

 

It is important to stress that both the Maidenhead United FC Community Trust and the wider club remains committed to championing wellbeing for everyone within our community and will continue to deliver our full and varied programme of health and wellbeing focused activities for all across our community. 

 

We are extremely proud of the impact the Wellbeing Support Service has had over the last few years. We can end this part of our wellbeing offer knowing how far reaching our support has been and the positive impact the service has had on many individuals lives. 

 

There is no doubt we would not have achieved this success without the commitment and kindness of our Wellbeing Co-ordinators and our team of volunteers. We would like to thank them for their enthusiasm, dedication and support to those most in need in our community.