Cambridge United Community Trust have appointed Sam Gomarsall as their new Community Trust Manager.
Sam comes into the role to replace Ben Szreter who has joined the Behavioural Insights Team, a social purpose company partly owned by the Cabinet Office.
Ben was CEO of the Community Trust from December 2016 to September 2019. In his time as CEO, the Community Trust won five different awards both national and local including for their education programmes, disability sport and community engagement. The ‘Mind Your Head’ programme which Ben designed and developed was also cited in an All-Party Parliamentary Report.
Chair of Trustees, Graham Daniels, paid tribute to the hard work that Ben put in over his tenure commenting: “We are very grateful for Ben’s first class contribution to the work of Cambridge United through his leadership of our Community Trust over these last three years. The quality of his work is evidenced by the most important legacy, namely his development of an outstanding team that will continue to enhance our vision for this community and city.”
Sam Gomarsall has worked at the Abbey Stadium for almost two and a half years. He was previously Head of Operations at the Community Trust, heading up the Health and Inclusion programmes alongside managing the Trust’s communications and fundraising streams. He will provide a strategic and operational lead for the Community Trust and assist in its growth moving forward.
Sam’s career in sport began working for the Sport Department at Oxford University, where he had previously studied, as the Football Development Officer. He is currently playing semi-professional football plays for St Neots Town and is a governor at the primary school closest to the Abbey Stadium, The Galfrid School.
Delighted to be given the role, Sam commented: "I feel extremely privileged to have been given the opportunity to lead Cambridge United Community Trust as we move into our tenth year. I am looking forward to continuing to work with our great team of staff to build on Ben’s leadership over the last few years.
“In the coming months and hopefully years, we want to go even further in using the power of sport and the brand of Cambridge United Football Club to create stronger, healthier and more inclusive communities in Cambridge, and specifically the Abbey Ward & North Cambridge.”
Graham Daniels said about the decision to appoint Sam: “The Trustees and I were delighted to appoint Sam to this role, believing him to be the right person to advance on the excellent work done by his predecessor. Sam is an outstanding man who brings with him a real desire and ability to ensure that people’s lives in our community are impacted positively.”
Cambridge United Community Trust engaged with over 7,000 individuals last year through their various ‘Health’, ‘Inclusion’ or ‘Education’ programmes.
Sam will be heading up a team of 12 staff as the Community Trust and spoke about the opportunities to get involved, saying: “We have lots of different programmes and had an age range of 3-97 last year so there may well be something for you! If you would like to take part in any of our programmes or engage in any other way, please check out our website www.cuctrust.co.uk or get in contact by emailing communitytrust@cambridge-united.co.uk or calling 01223 632129.”