WATR (The Rovers Trust)

[RoversClitheroe]

18 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

Fibbing? I've no axe to grind.🤷‍♂️

Not seen much myself so ill look forward to seeing a new concerted effort .

Instead of being negative why don't you sign up and try make a change?

[oldjamfan1]

18 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

Fibbing? I've no axe to grind.🤷‍♂️

Not seen much myself so ill look forward to seeing a new concerted effort .

Are you a member of the Trust Sparks? It would be worth a tenner surely to properly influence its work and not just come across as a serial criticiser?

Join here  https://www.roverstrust.com/registration-page/ or DM me. 

Edited November 6, 2021 by oldjamfan1

[RoversClitheroe]

3 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

Are you a member of the Trust Sparks? It would be worth a tenner surely to properly influence its work and not just come across as a serial criticiser?

Join here  https://www.roverstrust.com/registration-page/ or DM me. 

I'd love to join, what are the benefits and what impact can we have?

[oldjamfan1]

10 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

I'd love to join, what are the benefits and what impact can we have?

Most of the info is on the website - this is a useful page https://www.roverstrust.com/about-us/

I would add that the more members the trust has, the louder it’s voice will be. We have done a lot of work behind the scenes but we want to step things up now and once I’ve recovered from a forthcoming operation I will be tasked with increasing membership, which I will do 😉

Many people were prepared to pay around a tenner to stream a Rovers game from an empty stadium last season - it’s not a lot to ask to pay the same amount for annual membership and to try and protect the club and it’s heritage.

I’ll get off my soap box for now but as above - DM me if you want any further details and I know that John, the chair of the Trust is always happy for people to contact him for info too at chair@roverstrust.co.uk

[Sparks Rover]

2 hours ago, oldjamfan1 said:

Are you a member of the Trust Sparks? It would be worth a tenner surely to properly influence its work and not just come across as a serial criticiser?

Join here  https://www.roverstrust.com/registration-page/ or DM me. 

Serial? All I did was ask if the trust is getting out there considering the situation. 

[oldjamfan1]

22 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

Serial? All I did was ask if the trust is getting out there considering the situation. 

Maybe that was a bit harsh but you did come across as being a bit snipey. It’s easy to pass comment from the sidelines but we are all volunteers and I can say with some certainty that we will not be involved in calling for x, y or z manager’s head (whatever our personal views on the incumbent may be). What we are lobbying for is for better governance and quicker decision making within the club, among other things. 

[Irish_Rover]

Just signed up there myself, in fairness 10 quid for an annual membership is nothing at the end of the day.

I think its a great idea and is definately something that should be pushed out to as many people as possible to become members.

You'll obviously get the few numpties on Facebook and Twitter but there definately seems to be a majority from what I can see on Twitter that know we will be forever in a state of limbo with the Venkys owning us. Obviously with all of us here singing from the same hymn sheet as far as that goes I don't see any reason why we wouldn't all get behind it.

Edited November 8, 2021 by Irish_Rover

[Beafo]

On 06/11/2021 at 11:43, oldjamfan1 said:

Most of the info is on the website - this is a useful page https://www.roverstrust.com/about-us/

I would add that the more members the trust has, the louder it’s voice will be. We have done a lot of work behind the scenes but we want to step things up now and once I’ve recovered from a forthcoming operation I will be tasked with increasing membership, which I will do 😉

Many people were prepared to pay around a tenner to stream a Rovers game from an empty stadium last season - it’s not a lot to ask to pay the same amount for annual membership and to try and protect the club and it’s heritage.

I’ll get off my soap box for now but as above - DM me if you want any further details and I know that John, the chair of the Trust is always happy for people to contact him for info too at chair@roverstrust.co.uk

Every credit to you pal. Fans of the future will benefit from the selfless time that you and others are putting in.

[bazza]

1 hour ago, Irish_Rover said:

Just signed up there myself

I

You've prompted me to do the same. Thanks.

[oldjamfan1]

4 hours ago, Irish_Rover said:

Just signed up there myself, in fairness 10 quid for an annual membership is nothing at the end of the day.

I think its a great idea and is definately something that should be pushed out to as many people as possible to become members.

You'll obviously get the few numpties on Facebook and Twitter but there definately seems to be a majority form what I can see on Twitter that know we will be forever in a state of limbo with the Venkys owning us. Obviously with all of us here singing from the same hymn sheet as far as that goes I don't see any reason why we wouldn't all get behind it.

 

3 hours ago, Beafo said:

Every credit to you pal. Fans of the future will benefit from the selfless time that you and others are putting in.

 

2 hours ago, bazza said:

You've prompted me to do the same. Thanks.

Great stuff, keep spreading the word. You’ll see lots of publicity and marketing for the Trust coming out over the next few weeks, please help to push the message wherever you can. 
Thank you

[RoversClitheroe]

I too have just signed up.

It directed me to a login that I didn't have?

[bazza]

14 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

I too have just signed up.

It directed me to a login that I didn't have?

Check your email. It gives you a password.

[We Are The Rovers]

Just a quick update:

Covid dominated our lives and many of our projects were sidelined and put on hold, even some real basics.

There is a backlog of new registrations to work through, which I will be doing between now and Christmas. This will comprise a welcome email containing an additional confirmation (after the automatic process) of your membership, details of how to engage with our social media platforms, and a PDF of your Rovers Trust Membership certificate (we've gone paperless, so that we don't upset Sir David Attenborough too much). If you would like a physical copy, however, just reply to said welcome email and I will make a start on those in the New Year.

We've also really got a proper handle on our social media platforms recently, as well as gradually updating the website to make it more user-friendly and make content clearer.

In addition, having taken control of the Facebook Page it is far too basic and restrictive for our purposes. It will remain as a useful tool for public engagement, however, I will be looking to create a Facebook Group (with the same name) strictly for Rovers Trust Members for easier direct engagement with Trust projects.

The Facebook Page and Twitter feed will remain Public.

[Mattyblue]

I’ve been a member since day dot, yet I’ve never received a thing, be it in the post or email, the £10 always goes, so I presume I’m still a member!

Can it be looked into? Happy to DM on here, or is there a specific email address I can contact?

[Mike E]

1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

I’ve been a member since day dot, yet I’ve never received a thing, be it in the post or email, the £10 always goes, so I presume I’m still a member!

Can it be looked into? Happy to DM on here, or is there a specific email address I can contact?

Send a private message either to the Rovers Trust account or to me (I'm on the board) and I'll get it looked at 🙂

Ditto for any other Member with the same issue.

Although I'll excuse myself just a touch in that I've only been Member Officer/Secretary/Acting Secretary for around 5 years 🤣

Edited November 9, 2021 by Mike E

[Mhead2]

11 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

I’ve been a member since day dot, yet I’ve never received a thing, be it in the post or email, the £10 always goes, so I presume I’m still a member!

Can it be looked into? Happy to DM on here, or is there a specific email address I can contact?

Please...you are such a long term and valuable member of brfcs that we cannot allow this cock-up of our Mailchimp database to continue. Send an email to chair@roverstrust,co,uk and I will send you personally a copy of our next newsletter! You are not the only Member of the Trust to say this and of course if you change your main email it does disrupt this.....but an email to me or enquiries@roverstrust.co.uk  on any issue does get forwarded to Michael E. or the relevant person.

As a footnote we have 37 new members in the last few weeks. Our aim is to move up to 1000 members and show to the Club that we represent a high percentage of Rovers Supporters.

[RoversClitheroe]

Are you going to look back into selling those fantastic Rovers Trust shirts? 

[davulsukur]

On 09/11/2021 at 00:12, Rovers Trust said:

Just a quick update:

Covid dominated our lives and many of our projects were sidelined and put on hold, even some real basics.

There is a backlog of new registrations to work through, which I will be doing between now and Christmas. This will comprise a welcome email containing an additional confirmation (after the automatic process) of your membership, details of how to engage with our social media platforms, and a PDF of your Rovers Trust Membership certificate (we've gone paperless, so that we don't upset Sir David Attenborough too much). If you would like a physical copy, however, just reply to said welcome email and I will make a start on those in the New Year.

We've also really got a proper handle on our social media platforms recently, as well as gradually updating the website to make it more user-friendly and make content clearer.

In addition, having taken control of the Facebook Page it is far too basic and restrictive for our purposes. It will remain as a useful tool for public engagement, however, I will be looking to create a Facebook Group (with the same name) strictly for Rovers Trust Members for easier direct engagement with Trust projects.

The Facebook Page and Twitter feed will remain Public.

Probably an issue at my end but I realised that I followed the Rovers Trust on Twitter but none of their posts appear in my timeline. 

If I go onto the Rovers Trust Twitter page, I can see them?

[Mike E]

1 hour ago, davulsukur said:

Probably an issue at my end but I realised that I followed the Rovers Trust on Twitter but none of their posts appear in my timeline. 

If I go onto the Rovers Trust Twitter page, I can see them?

I have the same issue and I'm the Secretary 😅 I think it's something to do with notification settings but I'm not enough of a Twatter to help in that regard!

[Mhead2]

On 09/11/2021 at 22:24, RoversClitheroe said:

Are you going to look back into selling those fantastic Rovers Trust shirts? 

We have loads in an attic somewhere. Then Primark opened its first shop!

Always thought they were like poor Ivy League Baseball clones.

Send your details to support@roverstrust.co.uk and we will find an attic-soiled free gift.

[RoversClitheroe]

On 10/11/2021 at 23:34, Mhead2 said:

We have loads in an attic somewhere. Then Primark opened its first shop!

Always thought they were like poor Ivy League Baseball clones.

Send your details to support@roverstrust.co.uk and we will find an attic-soiled free gift.

Amazing! I've sent you an email really appreciate it! 

[Wood26]

Trying to understand what this is all about? I clicked the link, you want us in the prem by 2025?

Is this a joke or am I missing the point? A Rovers trust isn’t going to get us promoted.

What is the £10 paying for?

There is a lengthy post above from Rovers Trust apologising for delays etc. That’s the exact thing that annoys me about Rovers as it is, everything takes for ever and always an excuse. In Rovers Trust post the excuse is covid.
 

I would like the be better educated on this and hope it’s a benefit to the club and I’m just massively missing the point. 

But so far all I see is a ridiculous objective (prem by 2025), £10 join, already bad service the type I don’t want from rovers, and no real idea what you are really doing.

Please enlighten me and don’t point to a link like someone did above because that told me nothing.

[Miller11]

You are right @Wood26, nobody wants excuses and I hope these don’t sound like them. The Trust board is small and has some new additions (myself included) and we need to improve communications. There is work going on with the website which hopefully you will see soon.

These are some FAQs I’ve worked on, hopefully they will answer some of your questions. If you need to know anything else more specific, give me a shout.

 

 

What is Rovers Trust?

Rovers Trust is a registered Co-operative and Community Benefit Society regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.Since its inception, the Trust has worked towards supporter representation at Blackburn Rovers Football Club. Our elected Board are responsible for day-to-day Trust operations and working for the benefit of our members and the BRFC fanbase as a whole.

What are the Trust’s aims?

Our aim is to represent the interests of Rovers fans whose continued passionate support is pivotal to the success of our team. We also aim to celebrate and preserve the heritage of our club for future generations while protecting the club’s assets in the immediate and long-term future.

Our ongoing activities are based around three overarching aims:

• Celebrating History

• Serving the Rovers Community

• Protecting the Future

We were founded on the belief that supporters are the one constant at any club, and as such deserve significant input into the running of their clubs, and a significant ownership stake remains the ultimate aim.

 

 

 

Is ownership realistic?

 We retain a long-term aim of a meaningful supporter ownership stake in the Club ideally alongside like-minded major investors, similar to the shareholder make-up of German clubs. However, we remain acutely aware of the current reality. BRFC is reliant on the owner’s financial input to remain a going concern. We acknowledge the club is well funded via the owners, through necessity, due to the fact the club has been badly mismanaged throughout their tenure.When this specific long-term aim can be achieved has to reflect current and future realities and is largely outside of our control at this time. We will maintain our position regarding ownership at a national level and support appropriate campaigns within the wider Trust movement.

 

The Trust are very proud to have already acquired a minor shareholding within the club. While it isn’t at the level we’d ultimately like, it effectively gives all our members some ownership stake in the club they love.

 

 

 What has the trust achieved?

 In addition to acquiring a minor stake in the club, the Trust has a large number of successes, including:

• Sponsorship of local grassroots football teams

• Sponsorship of first team players

• Had Ewood Park designated as an Asset of Community Value (ACV)

• Led and contributed to multiple public meetings regarding BRFC

• Forged strong links with and provided interviews across regional, national and international publications and media outlets

• Put forward Early Day Motion to Parliament regarding football governance

• Contributed to Fan Led Review of Football Governance led by Tracey Crouch MP

• Attempted to open communication links with the Club’s owners via open letters

• Regular meetings with the Club’s CEO as well as contributing to Fans Forum and Supporter Consultation meetings

 

What about performances on the pitch?

Ordinarily, the performance of the manager and players is something that elicits many different opinions and wouldn’t be something the Trust would campaign or comment on. However, where the actions (or inactions) of the club’s ownership negatively impact on field performances, the Trust would be expected to represent the opinions of its members.

 

 

Why should I join?

 If you are of the belief that Football Club owners should be able to do as they please, the Trust probably isn’t for you. If you believe that the supporters have a moral right to influence and representation at their clubs, you absolutely should join!

By becoming a member, you can shape the ongoing direction of the Trust. All our members have an equal say in the running and direction of the Trust – one member, one vote. As well as annual elections we are obligated to run, we aim to regularly canvas member opinions. You can also attend our Annual General Meetings and other events.

 

As a member of Rovers Trust, you also become a minority Shareholder in Blackburn Rovers Football Club! 

 

The Trust is only as strong as its membership, and the more supporters we can claim to represent, the more likely we will be to succeed in our collective aims. 

 

  

What is the £10 fee for?

 In an ideal world membership would be free. Due to our constitution and our status as a legal entity, we need to charge a nominal fee. This is currently £10 per annum, and has been since the Trust’s inception.

 

As well as covering our not insignificant administrative costs, we aim to put your money to good use. We wish to enable the Trust to grow and achieve even more, as well as providing tangible benefits for our members. 

 

How can I be more involved? 

We welcome input from all existing and potential members, and you can get involved to whatever level you feel comfortable with. We hold regular elections to determine our Board, which any member is eligible to stand in. We also regularly co-opt board members outside of the election period.

We are also reliant on the help of volunteer members. Thankfully The Rovers fanbase and Trust membership possess many wide-ranging skills and expertise we regularly draw upon.

 

While we are always on the lookout for people who want to get more involved, we value all our members. There is no obligation to become more involved, and many of our long-term members prefer to support the work of the trust in the background.

[Mike E]

As far as the 'excuses' part, I make no apologies for being a volunteer trying to do what I can with the Trust.

In 2019 I was newly married and moved house, through 2020 supported my pregnant (and practically housebound, lonely) wife while working full time through the ongoing global pandemic', and in 2021 am getting to grips with being a dad.

Sorry about the delays (genuinely), but life happens ffs.

Oh, and I've been moderating this place 🤣

Edited November 14, 2021 by Mike E

[oldjamfan1]

Excellent stuff @Miller11