Brakes Trust: supporting Leamington FC
What is a Supporters Trust?
A Supporters Trust is a democratic, not-for-profit organisation of supporters, committed to strengthening the voice for supporters in the decision making process at a club, and strengthening the links between the club and the community it serves. Although in some ways it may look like a charity, and has the name ‘trust’, it is not a charitable organisation.
Brakes Trust is the short and memorable name for Leamington Football Club Supporters’ Co-operative Limited, which was established in 2010.
The trust is a Registered Society (registered in 2010 as an Industrial and Provident Society – currently registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014), it is a corporate body with limited liability and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Learn what a Registered Society is here (pdf), and see our registration details here (Registration Number: 30924R).
Brakes Trust is owned by its members, each of whom own one share in Brakes Trust.
How did Brakes Trust start?
A public meeting held on 10 December 2009 heard speakers from Supporters Direct and the Merthyr Tydfil Supporters Trust and voted to form Brakes Trust. Volunteers stepped forward to man a steering group whose job is to work with Supporters Direct to properly establish and launch the Trust. We held a “Launch Night” on 12 June and the first members were signed up.
What is Brakes Trust all about?
Brakes Trust is about three things: Supporters, Football Club and Community. An active and well run Trust will provide benefits for all three.
Supporters will see a clear, democratic structure that will get their voice heard. They will benefit directly from Trust membership in the form of events, discounts and offers.
The Football Club will benefit from funds and sponsorships raised by the Trust, from the new sets of local and national contacts that we will make by being involved in Supporters Direct and through a stronger and more coherent voice of the supporters. The Trust will be able to do, and will be interesting in doing, some things the club might find hard simply through lack of resource.
The Leamington community will benefit from projects undertaken on their behalf by the Trust and through the development of stronger networks and ties between the Trust, the Club and the community.
As a supporter we will value your input: your ideas, your help, your vote. We aim to deliver to you a football club, supporters group and community that is immeasurably stronger than it is today or has been at any time in the past.
Is Brakes Trust the same as a Supporters Club?
Yes – it is comprised of members who are supporters of Leamington FC. It will do many of the things that supporters clubs do: arrange travel and events; raise money for the Football Club; provide benefits for its members.
No – it has a wider remit, is legally constituted, and is financially transparent. It also has an aim to increase the influence and voice of supporters in club matters and to acquire a stake in the Football Club.
Management of the Trust
Brakes Trust is managed by a Board, each member of which is elected by the members of the Trust at an Annual General Meeting or is some cases co-opted by the Board for specific skills or purposes.
Brakes Trust Board is at present made up of the following members:
Nick Rogers – Chairman
Peter Davis – Vice Chairman
Adrian Barton
Graham Hobbins (Fan/Club Liason)
Andrew Calcutt
Nick Hallworth has been appointed as Secretary.
The specific objects of the Trust are
i. to strengthen the bonds between Leamington Football Club and the community which it serves and to
represent the interests of the community in the running of the Club;
ii. to benefit present and future members of the community served by the Club by
promoting encouraging and furthering the game of football as a recreational facility, sporting activity and focus for community involvement;
iii. to further the development of the game of football nationally and internationally and the upholding of its rules;
iv. to encourage the Club to take proper account of the interests of its supporters and of the community it serves in its decisions;
v. to encourage and promote the principle of supporter representation on the board of any company owning or controlling the Club and ultimately to be the vehicle for democratic elections to the board;
vi. to promote, develop and respect the rights of members of the community served by the Club and people dealing with the Society as set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, having regard in particular to the need to provide information to members and conduct the affairs of the Society in accessible and appropriate ways.