Changing Lives shortlisted at the Rochdale Diversity Award

Rochdale AFC Community Trust and Petrus are celebrating another fantastic recognition for the Changing Lives programme, which has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Breaking Barriers category at the Rochdale Diversity Awards 2026.

The nomination recognises the work being delivered through the Changing Lives partnership between Rochdale AFC Community Trust and Petrus, using football as a starting point to engage people experiencing homelessness and difficult circumstances across the local community.

Changing Lives aims to break down barriers, build confidence and create opportunities for people who may face challenges accessing traditional support. Through football, participants are given the opportunity to build relationships, develop confidence and take positive steps towards improved health and wellbeing, employability and personal development.

Since launching in January 2026, the programme has supported 33 people through 28 football and engagement sessions, alongside specialist workshops, competitive football opportunities, free haircuts, wellbeing support, and opportunities to attend Rochdale AFC fixtures.

The programme has also provided opportunities for participants to progress beyond the sessions, including involvement with Rochdale AFC Ability Counts, helping demonstrate how football can create genuine pathways and connections within the wider community.

The Breaking Barriers nomination is particularly significant because it recognises the programme’s focus on inclusion and its work to ensure that people who can often feel excluded or face significant barriers have opportunities to get involved, build connections and feel part of their community.

The recognition comes at an exciting time for Changing Lives, with the programme also recently shortlisted for Community Initiative of the Season – All Other Leagues at the 2026 Northwest Football Awards.

Scott Webster, Deputy Community Director at Rochdale AFC Community Trust, said:

“We’re incredibly proud to see Changing Lives recognised in this way. The programme is about much more than football. Football is the hook that gets people through the door, but from there we can build relationships, confidence, and opportunities.

Working alongside Petrus, we’ve seen the positive impact the programme is having on people’s lives, and being shortlisted for the Rochdale Diversity Awards is a fantastic recognition of everyone involved.

“To have Changing Lives recognised through both the Northwest Football Awards and now the Rochdale Diversity Awards shows the importance of the work and the difference our staff, participants and partners are making in the community.”

The winners of the Rochdale Diversity Awards 2026 will be announced at the awards ceremony on Friday 23 October at Rochdale Town Hall. The Changing Lives team will look forward to joining the other finalists and celebrating the fantastic work taking place across Rochdale to promote diversity, inclusion and equality within the community.