Tranmere Rovers Football Club are delighted to announce the next phase of the Community Tickets Scheme (formerly the SWA2 tickets) which is now entering its 7th year.
The scheme provides a football experience through organised charities and groups to families who would otherwise not have the opportunity due to financial or other circumstances. Since launching we have welcomed 23,500 people to Prenton Park through this scheme.
Merseyside is home to Tranmere Rovers and areas within Liverpool, Wirral and Cheshire and is one of the most underprivileged areas in England, in which many families go without the experiences some can often take for granted. Our Community Tickets scheme aims to provide access to match tickets for those in deprived areas across Merseyside at a low cost, integrating friends and family in these areas into our ever-developing Football family.
As Wirral’s Family Club, Tranmere Rovers wants to ensure that every supporter has a chance to make memories and socialise without being held back by socioeconomic circumstances. Investing in the young next generation of supporters, particularly the Under 16 category, is especially important as they will grow to contribute to the future economy and community.
But the best adverts for the Community Tickets scheme are the experiences of some who have benefitted from them in the past:
‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You put a lot of smiles on a lot of children and senior member’s faces. Most of our members are from poor families who don’t get much so we are grateful.’
‘I am usually isolated at home, so it gives me a chance to get out and socialise with new people and I have met new friends through this opportunity.’
‘It has really improved my confidence and self-esteem by getting out of the house. I am so grateful!’
‘You would not believe over the last two years how many children have had low mental health, but with your help, we have had a lot of happy children, thank you.’
‘I have enjoyed feeling part of a club by having the chance to become a supporter.’
Speaking on the community ticket scheme Chairman, Mark Palios, said:
“The Community Ticket Scheme was one of the first of many community focused initiatives we have introduced at the Club and it is one the fans have taken to heart. It is part of our strategy to use the club to harness the late good will of the Club’s fan base and commercial partners, to help give a leg-up to some of the most disadvantaged members of our local community.
Initially designed to enhance disadvantaged children’s childhoods it has been expanded to recognise that adults also can miss out on things that most of us take for granted like coming to a game of live professional football, so Community Tickets can be distributed to anyone in proven need, regardless of age.
It is an initiative particularly close to my heart and was inspired by my own personal experiences as a child, when someone was kind enough to buy me my first ever match ticket.”
Jess Grundy from the Tranmere Rovers Trust spoke about the scheme after being heavily involved in it over the years:
“Community tickets are such a positive thing that the trust and the club undertake to give someone the experience of their first game at Prenton Park.
We recognise that due to circumstances beyond local people's control being able to afford to go to a match is not possible and these tickets will allow them to have a great experience watching their local football club.
Please support this project and help create some great memories and fans of the future.“
Moving forward, we are certain that with the growth of the scheme, Prenton Park will become the backdrop to many more enjoyable memories and will encourage the local community to become unified, whether or not financial hardship is a factor they endure.
The Community Ticket Scheme falls under the Enhancement pillar of the Tranmere Rovers’ work in the community approach, the others being Health and Wellbeing and Citizenship. It provides experiences for those in the community who miss out on experiences others in the community may enjoy.
We are looking for donations towards the scheme in order to allow as many families and children to attend games in the new 2022/23 campaign. A donation of £25 would mean a local organisation can bring four children and £40 would see a family of six enjoying live football when they wouldn’t normally be able to. Our aim is to raise £20,000 which will be used to pay for 105 child and accompanying adult match tickets per home game. For every ticket that is paid for by fans, the Club has kindly agreed to match the number of tickets up to 105 per home game, totalling 4830 over the season. You can donate to the crowdfunder by CLICKING HERE.
Tickets are distributed on an invitation only basis and through registered charities or recognised organisations. Applications for charities and organisations to register their interest in the Community Ticket Scheme will open during July 2022, so please check www.tranmererovers.co.uk for details.