How does a successful sports club share its success with the community?

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If you are wondering how you can have a more positive impact while you run a business or earn a living, you’re in the right place. Read on for examples of businesses, charities, government organisations, individuals and entrepreneurs who have done it or are achieving it - and doing so at pace.

And discover opportunities, tools and resources to help you in your aims.

How can successful football or sports clubs use that success to benefit social causes? With Manchester City on the brink of winning the (continental) treble this week, we share their exclusive insight on what they are doing. Rachel Cummins, Communications Manager at City in the Community explains.

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5 ways Manchester City has supported its charity during end of season moments

Since its formation in 1880, community values have lived at the heart of Manchester City Football Club.

This ethos rings true today, embodied by the Club’s charity, City in the Community.

As the 2022/23 season draws to a close, sharing success with City in the Community and the people it supports has been at the forefront of the Club’s celebrations.

Here are five ways which Manchester City’s end of season moments have elevated City in the Community.

1. Premier League Trophy Presentation

Former City goalkeeper, Alex Williams MBE, was given the honour of handing the Premier League trophy to Club Captain, Ilkay Gundogan, during the presentation ceremony at the Etihad.

Williams was selected to be the lead trophy bearer for City’s third consecutive Premier League triumph by way of a fitting tribute to his 33 years’ incredible service with the Club’s charity, City in the Community, ahead of his retirement later this summer.

Alex was joined by 19-year-old Tom O’Dell, whose journey with City in the Community has been similarly inspirational, taking him from the verge of school expulsion to degree student and now valued member of staff.

2. FA Cup Final Shirts

City in the Community’s logo featured on the back of Man City’s FA Cup final shirts to help raise awareness of the charity, which has the potential to be seen by up to 500 million viewers globally.

Fans were also able to take part in an auction of match-issued FA Cup final shirts with proceeds going towards CITC’s new fundraising initiative, Healthy Goals, which uplifts the physical and mental health of city youth through football.

The auction closes at 12pm on Saturday 10th June and fans can take part here.

3. An Istanbul surprise

City in the Community Military Veteran participant, Dennis, received the surprise of his life when the Club gifted him two tickets, flights and a hotel package to watch the UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul.

Dennis, a huge Man City fan, has served in the RAF for over 20 years before recently retiring. He is a much-loved member of the CITC Military Veterans sessions, who is willing to go above and beyond to support the charity and his peers.

Upon visiting the City Football Academy under false pretences, Dennis was surprised to find that instead of simply meeting CITC Community Coach Pete Bradshaw, he was presented with the trip of a lifetime.

4. Donations from UCL Final Screening

City in the Community will be receiving 100% of the proceeds raised by Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League Final screening at Depot Mayfield on Saturday, 10 June.

The Club has also enabled the charity to arrange a raffle at the event, with signed Jack Grealish and Kevin DeBruyne shirts up for grabs, to help bolster funds.

All profits raised on the night will be matched pound-for-pound* by the Club, supporting the charity’s new Healthy Goals initiative.

Funds raised will uplift the physical and mental health of local young people by creating new community football pitches in Manchester, where the charity’s youth led programmes will be delivered.

5. UEFA Champions League Final shirts

City in the Community will feature on the back of Man City’s UEFA Champions League final shirts on Saturday 10th June to help raise awareness of the charity. A match which averages 400 million viewers globally.

Fans will also be able to take part in an auction of match-issued UEFA Champions League final shirts, with proceeds going towards CITC’s new fundraising initiative, Healthy Goals.

The auction will open at 8pm on Saturday 10th June, when the match kicks off, with more details to be announced across mancity.com and @citcmancity on social media soon.

Commenting on the support received from the Club, Head of City in the Community, Mike Geary, added:

Founded in 1986, CITC’s purpose is to empower healthier lives with city youth through football.

Our programmes help support people across Greater Manchester by placing physical and mental wellbeing at their core, whilst creating healthy futures and healthy communities.

The 2021/22 campaign saw the charity deliver 17 programmes, reaching 19,119 people aged between two and 79, totally over 22,000 community sessions and averaging 29 hours per participant.

To keep up to date with City in the Community, follow the charity across social media using @citcmancity.

For more information, please visit www.mancity.com/CITC or email [email protected].

*Overall, City Football Group will contribute a maximum of £125,000 to City in the Community through this campaign or £500,000 in total for all City Football Group affiliated charities participating in the campaign (whichever comes first).

Republished with permission from City in Community.

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Robot mower adds rewilding mode

Achieving a positive social impact is possible in almost any business. Including those with robot tools!

Husqvarna has brought ease and automation to moving lawns with its @Automower®, but has realised that cutting all the grass can damage habitats for insects like bees and butterflies.

So it has adapted its programming to offer a ‘rewilding mode’. This uses GPS to designate initially 10% or more of a garden that will not be mown. The user can then tweak that to set it to a chosen location in the garden.

If you have a story to tell about how you’ve grown a business’ income and social impact at pace, do get in touch with us.

If you’d like to advertise on or sponsor future editions of Professionals With Purpose do contact Connor Seaton.