Working at Charlton Athletic Community Trust

The community programme at Charlton Athletic Football Club was established in 1992 and became Charlton Athletic Community Trust in 2003. Affectionately known as CACT, it is famed for its work in its local communities and? has scooped numerous prestigious industry awards over recent years.

The community initiative began when the football club returned to The Valley in 1992. It started with just one member of staff, a bag of footballs and a telephone and has now grown into an organisation that employs 100 permanent staff, has a pool of over 100 casual coaches and engages with thousands of people on a weekly basis.

CACT uses the power of football and sport to engage, empower and provide positive opportunities and activities for young people as highlighted in the mission statement.

From engagement and early intervention schemes, young people are signposted into positive activities and provided with exit routes into recreational and structured activities run by the Trust and partner agencies.

There is emphasis on creating pathways into employment and turning young people into positive role models. These include personal improvement programmes centred on education, health, social inclusion, citizenship and community working across different strands.

CACT’s ground breaking and innovative programmes are delivered through a regular presence in schools and working with disadvantaged or socially excluded groups in society, through crime reduction initiatives and community based football coaching sessions.

The types of programmes delivered by CACT fit under seven strands of work:

Early Help and Prevention
Education
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Football and Sports Development
Health Improvement
Social Action and Enterprise
Youth Services