Petrus and Rochdale AFC Community Trust are celebrating a fantastic achievement after the Changing Lives programme was shortlisted as a finalist in the Breaking Barriers category at the Rochdale Diversity Awards 2026.
The Rochdale Diversity Awards are an annual celebration of the outstanding work being delivered by individuals, employers and organisations to promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
The nomination recognises the positive impact of the Changing Lives partnership, which brings together Petrus and Rochdale AFC Community Trust, to support and engage with people experiencing homelessness, social isolation and other challenging circumstances across the local community.
Changing Lives focuses on removing barriers that can often prevent people from accessing support. By creating regular opportunities to engage, participants are encouraged to develop new skills, build positive relationships and access wider support services that can help them move forward in their lives.
Through football, the programme creates a welcoming environment where people can build confidence, improve their wellbeing and develop meaningful connections. For many participants, the sessions provide more than just an opportunity to play football. They offer a pathway towards greater stability, improved physical and mental health, employability and a stronger sense of belonging.
Since launching in January 2026, Changing Lives has supported 33 people through 28 football and engagement sessions, alongside specialist workshops, wellbeing support, free haircuts, competitive football opportunities and visits to Rochdale AFC fixtures.
Several participants have also progressed into wider community opportunities, including involvement with Rochdale AFC Ability Counts, demonstrating how the programme can open doors to new experiences, personal development and connections within the wider community.
Being shortlisted in the Breaking Barriers category is a particularly meaningful achievement, recognising the programme's commitment to inclusion and its success in creating opportunities for people who can often feel excluded from their communities.
The recognition follows further success for the programme, which has also recently been shortlisted for Community Initiative of the Season - All Other Leagues at the 2026 Northwest Football Awards.
Sonia Denham, Managing Director at Petrus, said:
"I'm delighted to see that this amazing partnership between Petrus Community and Rochdale AFC Community Trust has been recognised and shortlisted for the Northwest Football Awards and the Rochdale Diversity Awards, to be seen for the positivity it has generated in people’s lives in an abundance of ways.
The Changing Lives programme is really important because it provides a space where people can belong. People can turn up and be part of a community, allowing them to which means that more people can access health care provision, build their confidence and really grow, develop, and excel."
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 on Friday 23 October at Rochdale Town Hall. The Changing Lives team are looking forward to joining fellow finalists and celebrating the individuals and organisations making a difference to diversity, inclusion and equality across Rochdale.