Club Development Solutions Helps Gala Fairydean Rovers Community Trust Unlock £20,000 in Gift Aid

Club Development Solutions is proud to highlight its ongoing partnership with Gala Fairydean Rovers Community Trust, which has helped the Trust unlock around £20,000 in Gift Aid and significantly strengthen its long-term financial sustainability.

Established in 2020 and run entirely by volunteers, the Community Trust plays a vital role in supporting football participation across the Scottish Borders. Like many grassroots organisations, however, navigating the complexity of Gift Aid administration proved challenging in its early years.

“Our Trust is wholly run by volunteers and, having only been established in 2020, it was taking a while to get to grips with how Gift Aid worked and properly administered,” explained Dave Scott, Trustee of Gala Fairydean Rovers Community Trust.

After approaching Club Development Solutions for support, progress was swift. Within weeks, Gift Aid systems were reviewed, simplified and strengthened, reducing the administrative burden on volunteers and ensuring compliance with HMRC requirements.

“Within a fortnight Andrew had streamlined our system and taken a lot of weight off our shoulders. Within a month he had dug into our records, helped us frame new policies and was able to backdate our first claim right back to the incorporation of the Trust,” Dave added.

This work enabled the Trust to submit retrospective Gift Aid claims and begin maximising the value of donations already being generated through its community activity.

The financial impact has been transformational. Funds unlocked through Gift Aid have been reinvested directly into football provision and community impact across the club.

“Through the partnership we have unlocked tens of thousands of pounds of Gift Aid which, being wholly voluntary, we have been able to reinvest directly in the grassroots,” said Dave.

This investment has supported:

• New equipment for the club’s academy

• Funding for volunteers to gain coaching qualifications

• The development of para football, walking football and girls’ squads

• The creation of reserves to support future community projects

Alongside Gift Aid, the Trust has introduced an innovative match funding programme, designed to empower teams and families to raise money locally.

“We’ve introduced a match funding programme which sees the Trust match the amount raised by various teams through football cards, bag packing or sponsored runs,” Dave explained.“It’s motivated players, coaches and families to generate income for kit or trips to competitions.”

The partnership extends beyond financial claims. Club Development Solutions continues to support the Trust with governance advice, policy development and updates on legal and regulatory changes.

“Andrew is also very good at keeping us fully updated on any developments in law, advising us on Gift Aid policy and ensuring we have all the information required to make informed decisions,” Dave noted.

Andrew has also demonstrated a personal commitment to the club, sponsoring matches and funding an advertising board at the ground, reinforcing the importance of long-term, values-led partnerships in community sport.

With strong systems now in place, Gala Fairydean Rovers Community Trust is well positioned to continue growing its impact across the Borders.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Club Development Solutions in the years ahead and continue maximising the impact of football in the Borders,” Dave concluded.

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From Gift Aid reviews and backdated claims, to policy development, governance support and financial sustainability planning, CDS helps clubs make the most of what they already do well and ensures no available income is left on the table.

Clubs interested in finding out more are encouraged to get in touch for an initial conversation to explore how CDS support could unlock additional income and increase long-term impact.