Empowering communities through sport - with UHY as a strategic partner
For Nottingham Forest Community Trust, football is just the starting point. As the official charity of Nottingham Forest Football Club, the Trust delivers life-changing programmes across Nottinghamshire, from mental health support and youth mentoring to education, employability and physical activity initiatives.
Their mission is clear: to deliver transformative programmes that promote health, wellbeing and personal growth - helping Nottinghamshire communities thrive through the power of sport. Guided by values of being Accessible, Committed and Progressive, the Trust is a beacon of positive change in the region.
But delivering impact at scale requires more than passion. It demands robust governance, financial clarity and a partner who understands the unique pressures of the not-for-profit sporting world - from navigating hybrid funding models to meeting the expectations of funders, regulators and the public.
UHY has worked with Nottingham Forest Community Trust for nearly ten years, supporting them with external audit, corporation tax compliance, payroll and wider advisory services. That continuity has given us a deep understanding of the Trust’s activity, funding cycles and accounting patterns, as well as their organisational values and strategic goals.
Chris McKain, Director at UHY’s Nottingham office, leads the relationship. “We’ve built a deep understanding of the pressures they face,” says Chris. “From navigating complex funding arrangements to meeting the expectations of stakeholders, our job is to give them confidence in their financial systems so they can focus on delivering impact.”
Calum Osborne, Chief Executive Officer at the Trust, agrees: “We have worked with UHY for nearly a decade, and they have supported and added value to various financial aspects of the Trust. Their deep understanding of the sports sector, including its regulatory framework and funding arrangements, enables them to provide expert guidance that strengthens our strategic planning and evolving plans.”
As a leading adviser to not-for-profit sporting bodies across the UK, we understand the intricacies of public funding, VAT treatment and charity regulation. This enables us to help clients navigate the complex intersection of charitable purpose, community delivery and financial accountability.
“Sporting charities operate in the public eye,” says Chris. “That means controls, transparency and reputation management are critical. We help our clients stay compliant, but also agile - ready to respond to new funding opportunities or regulatory changes.”
Adding value beyond the audit
Our familiarity with the Trust, its team, trustees and systems, ensures we deliver a well-planned, efficient audit that gives trustees peace of mind. Our audits are designed not just to test compliance, but to assess whether systems and controls are working effectively. Where we identify areas for development, we share practical recommendations through our Audit Findings Report and discuss them at finance committee meetings, drawing on our extensive sector experience to add value.
“The audit process is always meticulously planned and seamlessly managed, with clear, proactive communication from the UHY team,” says Calum. “Their commitment to staff continuity ensures a smooth experience year after year, fostering a strong and trusted working relationship.”
We ensure financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP and meet the disclosure requirements of accounting standards, Company Law and Charity Law. Our goal is to make the audit process seamless - so the Trust’s team can focus on delivering more fantastic projects to the local community.
And our support doesn’t stop at year-end. We provide ongoing guidance on regulatory changes and act as a sounding board whenever needed. It’s all part of our commitment to helping Nottingham Forest Community Trust prosper.
For both our UHY team and Nottingham Forest Community Trust, the relationship is built on shared values: integrity, community and a commitment to making a difference. We provide insights and practical recommendations that help the Trust improve its financial operations and demonstrate impact to funders. That’s where our sector knowledge really adds value - drawing on what we’ve seen elsewhere to help the Trust make informed, confident decisions.
“UHY consistently meets deadlines, shares valuable sector insights and provides best-practice recommendations that enhance our financial operations,” says Calum. “Their expertise and support in navigating the unique challenges of sport community trusts has been invaluable.”
“It’s a privilege for our UHY team to work with Nottingham Forest Community Trust,” says Chris. “Their work is inspiring, and we’re proud to play a small part in helping them deliver it.”
To learn more about Nottingham Forest Community Trust, visit nottinghamforestcommunitytrust.co.uk.
To explore how UHY supports charities and not-for-profit sporting bodies, visit uhy-uk.com/sectors/charity-and-not-profit.
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