BRIDGWATER United Football Club - the new name for the merged Bridgwater Town and Yeovil United clubs - is to launch a community sports trust in May of this year, with the aim of serving people in the town of Bridgwater and the surrounding area.

Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust (BUCST), in partnership with Bridgwater United FC, has the objective of providing all members of the local community with the opportunity to access a range of programmes including physical activity and wellbeing, regardless of age, gender and ethnicity.

This is the latest development following the arrival of Adam Murry - who rescued AFC Bournemouth from collapse in 2009 - at Bridgwater, with the club having become a limited company (with Murry as chief executive), launched a youth academy, unveiled plans for a revamp of its stadium (Fairfax Park) and announced its merger with the Yeovil United women's football club.

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BUCST is to be a community interest company (i.e. a not-for-profit entity), to ensure that all revenue received goes back into the development of activities and opportunities for the local community, with increased participation in schools among its ambitions.

A club statement said: "Working in partnership with its parent club, BUCST will strategically deliver the club’s ethos of being a community- and family-orientated club.

"The relationship between the club and the trust is extremely strong and reaches out to children, teenagers, adults, families and the older generation, allowing everyone to feel close to their local football club."

The trust will be headed up by Oli Moore, who will leave his post at the Chelsea FC Foundation to take on the role of community development manager in Bridgwater in May.

Somerset-born Moore brings plenty of experience to the post, having worked with both the Somerset FA and The FA’s Youth Council.

He said: “The launch of the Community Sports Trust marks a truly exciting phase in the club’s development and is a real cornerstone of the club’s drive to be a catalyst for positive change in the local community.

"BUCST aims to build a stronger and more united community through a wide range of innovative and accessible programmes, including employability, education, inclusion and physical activity.

"I am very excited to get started and bring the trust’s huge potential to a reality.”

Bob Buckingham, chairman of Bridgwater United FC and BUCST, commented: “The creation and development of our community sports trust is a major step forward, and further demonstrates our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community, as we continue the exciting journey of creating the infrastructure on which our future success will be built.”

Ewan Greenhill, chief operations director of the club and the trust, added: “Bridgwater’s local community is, and always has been, the beating heart of this football club.

"The trust will provide projects, activities and visits to the local and wider community, not only using the stadium but also within areas of the conurbation.

"By working collaboratively with our partners and ensuring high quality delivery from a dedicated and hard-working team of staff, trustees and volunteers, we are confident that we can continue to play our part in making a positive difference in our community.”

A new website for the trust is set to launch in due course, but anyone wanting more information at this point can email info@BridgwaterUnitedCommunitySportsTrust.co.uk.