BRISTOL Rovers had a tough time on the pitch in the final months of 2025 but the club’s community trust kicked off an important initiative to improve the health of people in the city.
It has signed a two-year deal with North Bristol NHS Trust to improve access to services and strengthen public engagement.
The collaboration agreement between NBT and Bristol Rovers Community Trust aligns with the NHS 10-year-plan’s shift from hospital to community. It outlines a joint commitment to:
● Promote physical activity, mental health awareness, and healthy lifestyle choices, for example through free health checks for members of the local community.
● Deliver community-based health education programmes, such as visiting local schools together to teach pupils about health and wellbeing.
● Provide access to local resources, for example by NBT attending local events at the football ground.
● Co-create campaigns and events that are inclusive, engaging, and measurable in their impact.
Maria Kane, chief executive of Bristol NHS Group, which North Bristol NHS Trust is part of alongside University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said:“I’m delighted to launch this collaboration, which is about more than just working together, it’s about building a healthier, more connected community. By joining forces with Bristol Rovers Community Trust, we’re better able to reach people where they are, in ways that are meaningful and accessible.”
Adam Tutton, chief executive officer of Bristol Rovers Community Trust, added: “We’re thrilled to announce our collaboration with North Bristol NHS Trust. This groundbreaking collaboration between a football club charity and a leading healthcare provider has the potential to harness the power of football to reach people, improve lives, and drive meaningful change in local health and wellbeing.”
To mark the beginning of the collaboration, members of Bristol Rovers Community Trust and Bristol Rovers football club received free health checks from the Health Checks Team at NBT. These checks provided insights into health and wellbeing to help individuals take proactive steps toward healthier lifestyles.
NBT provided free health checks to other organisations and the community last summer, including at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, and will explore further ways to provide these to local communities as part of the collaboration with BRCT.
The organisations say ther;’s a growing recognition that health and wellbeing is shaped not just in hospitals and clinics, but in schools, sports clubs, and community spaces.