What is the Trust?
The Dale Trust was set up back in 2004 with the intention of strengthening the links between the Supporters and the Rochdale Football Club, whilst providing an opportunity to fundraise for the Club and support the wider community where appropriate.
The Trust is owned by its members and retains over 12,000 shares within the Football Club making it one of the leading shareholders. It is run on a day to day basis by a small committee of volunteers that will meet monthly. Elections are held to be part of that Committee but members can also be co-opted onto the Board if opportunities are available.
Communication is at the core of everything that the Trust does, and we endeavour to be as open as possible with our members. We keep members in the loop by emailing out a monthly newsletter, by ensuring the website is up to date with relevant information and by making members of the Trust available to supporters in the Dale Bar before Saturday home games.
That communication is a two way thing - we encourage members to email their thoughts and concerns to info@daletrust.co.uk, and we will also garner opinion on a number of issues over the course of the season.
Since our inception, we have donated many thousands of pounds to the club, contributing towards Floodlights, Training equipment, Pitch Covers, Speakers, and have contributed towards projects such as the decoration of the Carlsberg Lounge. The Trust will only make such contributions if it has the backing of its members, and any donations over £2,000 require a members’ vote.
We work together with local charities and are proud to have raised many thousands of pounds for worthy causes including Factor 50, Cystic Fibrosis, Football in the Community, Springhill Hospice, Moorland’s Children Home, Edgar’s Gift, Bloodwise, the Rochdale Foodbank and Clic Sargant.
But principally, the Trust is an organisation set up for the benefit of Rochdale AFC, its supporters and the community, and the work that we do is designed to help achieve that objective.
Membership of the Trust is just £10 for the 2018-19 season. Join hundreds of other Dale supporters by becoming a member either online or by visiting the Trust desk before any Saturday home game.