Each year, an impact report gives us a moment to pause.
To take stock of what’s been delivered, who’s been reached and where progress has been
made. And on paper, 2025 was a significant year for Montrose Community Trust.
Across 35 programmes, we delivered 22,680 engagements, supporting people of all ages
through football, health and wellbeing, community development, employability and climate
action.
But the reality is this: our work has never really been about numbers.
It’s about people.

What impact really looks like

It’s easy to list statistics.
● 965 breakfasts served
● 2,632 times that pupils reached through Football for Schools
● 3,494 holiday camp engagements
● 1,705 Walk & Talk attendances
● 1,587 visits to Montrose Connections
Each of those figures represents something far more human.
A young person who feels more confident walking into school.
A parent who knows their child has somewhere safe and supportive to go.
An older adult living with dementia who feels connection, routine and recognition.
Someone taking a first step…literally or figuratively…towards better health.
That is where the real value sits.

MoreThanFootball In Practice

“More Than Football” is often used as a phrase. For us, it’s a framework.
Football is the gateway. It brings people together in a way very few things can. It creates
familiarity, lowers barriers and builds trust.

From there, we are able to support people in ways that extend far beyond the pitch.
That might mean:
● Supporting mental wellbeing through conversation and connection
● Providing structured support for those living with dementia
● Creating opportunities for young people to build skills and confidence
● Offering accessible physical activity for people who may not otherwise engage
● Developing community responses to challenges like cost of living and social isolation
It’s not about replacing services. It’s about complementing them; offering a different, often more
accessible route into support.

A Community-Led Model That Works

One of the most important aspects of our work is that it is rooted in place.
We listen. We respond. We adapt.
Programmes like Breakfast in the Box, Walk & Talk, Montrose Connections and our school-
based delivery didn’t emerge in isolation. They were shaped by real need, local insight and
ongoing feedback.
This approach allows us to remain relevant, responsive and trusted.
It also means that impact isn’t something that happens to a community…it’s something that is
built with it.

The Power of Partnership

None of this happens alone.
The report reflects the contribution of staff, volunteers, trustees, schools, local organisations,
businesses and funders who all play a part in making the work possible.
Our 30+ active volunteers are a particularly important part of that story. They bring energy,
experience and compassion into everything we do.
Equally, our partners, across health, education, sport and the third sector, allow us to extend our
reach and deepen our impact.
Collaboration isn’t an added extra. It’s fundamental.

Investing in the Future

Alongside programme delivery, 2025 was also a year of building for what comes next.

With over £700,000 raised and invested back into the local area, and continued momentum
behind the £2 million Gable End Development, we are working to create the infrastructure
needed to sustain and grow our impact.
The Gable End is not just a capital project.
It represents:
● A permanent home for community-led activity
● Increased capacity to support more people, more often
● Dedicated spaces for health, employability, education and inclusion
● A long-term shift towards sustainability and resilience
It is, in many ways, the physical embodiment of everything the Trust stands for.

Looking Ahead

If this report shows anything, it’s that community-led organisations can be a serious force for
good.
Not just in delivering activity, but in shaping healthier, more connected and more resilient
places.
There is still work to be done. Demand continues to grow. Challenges evolve.
But so does our ambition.
We believe that by continuing to listen, collaborate and invest in people, we can go even further;
reaching more individuals, supporting more families and strengthening our community for the
long term.

A final word

Behind every number in this report is a person.
A story. A relationship. A moment that mattered.
To everyone who has been part of that…participants, volunteers, partners, funders and
supporters…thank you.
This is what community looks like when it works.