Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, has launched a new partnership with the Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust to expand colleagues' opportunities to drive positive social value in local communities. Allwyn employs 1,100 people at its UK headquarters in Watford.

Impact For Good is Allwyn’s programme that empowers colleagues to support causes and communities. It does this through volunteering and matched fundraising. The partnership with Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust gives colleagues direct access to high-impact volunteering. These opportunities support the Trust’s projects in sports, education, health, and community across Hertfordshire and parts of Greater London.

Through Allwyn’s Impact For Good programme, each permanent and fixed-term colleague receives up to two days (16 hours) of paid volunteering time per year. Colleagues can use this time in hourly increments or as full days. Four partners funded by The National Lottery provide impactful opportunities across all four of The National Lottery’s funding sectors: Community, Heritage, Arts, and Sport.

Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust engages over 16,000 people annually. The Trust delivers inclusive sports, health, education, and community initiatives locally and at Vicarage Road Stadium. Volunteers help generate over £22 million in annual social value for Watford.

Volunteering opportunities for Allwyn colleagues will include: youth sport, mentoring and positive role modelling through Premier League Kicks and community football programmes; life skills and inspiration through sport, from football development programmes, including pathways into the Watford FC Academy, to dementia-support projects; sports, health and wellbeing programmes; holiday schemes and multisport activities; major sports and community events.

To celebrate the launch, the Trust will visit Allwyn’s Clarendon Works office in Watford on 15 April. Colleagues will have the chance to meet the Trust team, learn about the available volunteering opportunities, and enter a competition to win tickets to upcoming Watford FC matches.

Alastair Ruxton, Chief Impact Officer at Allwyn, said: “Volunteering is central to how we bring Allwyn’s purpose to life. By partnering with Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust, we’re giving colleagues meaningful ways to contribute to the wellbeing and opportunities of people right here in Watford, where our UK head office is based.

“The Trust’s programmes rely on volunteers to extend their reach and our teams can help unlock even greater impact for local families, young people and those who benefit from community sport. This partnership is a powerful example of how Allwyn’s Impact For Good programme brings our purpose to life and how our commitment to operate The National Lottery responsibly can create real, lasting benefit where it matters most.”

Rob Smith, Community Director at Watford Football Club's Community Sports and Education Trust, added: “We're excited to be launching this brand-new partnership with Allwyn. It is clear to see that this is a partnership built on genuine care for their community. Not only will their commitment and support enable us to continue creating healthier, happier, stronger communities, but it will also see members of the Allwyn team use their expertise and enthusiasm to go out into the community and directly help our staff and volunteers in providing a safe, friendly, and efficient service to our beneficiaries and supporters. We thank Allwyn for their support and look forward to welcoming their people to one of our impactful projects, activities, and events soon."

Allwyn also supports major sporting and cultural volunteering events in the UK through its Social Value Fund. This annual £1 million fund supports initiatives that show Allwyn's commitment to running The National Lottery in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Find out more Social value | Allwyn UK

Allwyn is the Official Volunteer Learning and Development Partner for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Six Allwyn colleagues will join the 3,000-strong volunteer team from 23 July to 2 August.

The Social Value Fund also powered a 1,500-strong volunteer cohort at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. It supports Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture volunteers in accessing ongoing training and development through 2026. This ongoing support creates a legacy from that major National Lottery-funded event.

About Allwyn and The National Lottery 

Allwyn operates The National Lottery® under licence, raising vital funds that help communities thrive across the UK. Every ticket makes a difference - from grassroots sport and local arts to heritage and community initiatives. Distribution of funds is managed by independent bodies.  

• Players of The National Lottery raise around £33 million every week for National Lottery-funded projects. Since its launch in 1994, more than £53 billion has been raised, funding over 680,000 Good Cause projects in every part of the UK. In every postcode district, most people will have benefited from a National Lottery-funded project at some point.  
• The National Lottery has awarded players over £103 billion in prize money, creating more than 8,000 millionaires.  
• Learn more about Allwyn and The National Lottery at www.allwyn.co.uk and www.national-lottery.co.uk. · Explore projects funded in your area at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk.  
• Players must be 18 or over. Please play responsibly.

Press enquiries: Allwyn Press Office - 020 7632 5711  

About Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust (the Trust).

Web: www.watfordfccsetrust.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WFCTrust

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wfctrust/

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/WFCTrust

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/watfordfc-cse-trust/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WFCTrust

Vision: One goal – healthier, happier, stronger communities

Mission: To expand the Watford FC family by providing opportunities in Hertfordshire and London, to enrich people’s lives, create special memories, and enable positive futures.

Culture: We are a values-based and vision-driven charity, who put our people and our beneficiaries at the heart of everything we do and why we do it.

Values:‍

• To be honest, reliable, and trustworthy. Integrity.
• To be inclusive in all our decision making. Inclusivity.
• To be bold and creative in the way we work. Innovation.

Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust is a registered charity (Charity No: 1102239), delivering a range of projects, activities, and events on behalf of Watford Football Club across Hertfordshire and the London Boroughs of Harrow and Hillingdon. These activities span across Health & Wellbeing, Social Inclusion, and Football & Sports Development. The Trust also runs and manages two community hubs, Cedars Youth & Community Centre in Harrow, and Meriden Community Centre in Watford.