Northampton Town are in the very first batch of clubs to have been given Silver accreditation by the Football League Trust for our work in the Community.

The club will now receive £48k which will be invested into Community activities.

Our staff were recently assessed by the Trust Regional Management team, who found that the club's Community work met the required standard for a Silver award.

In total, Silver Awards have been given to 11 clubs in the Coca-Cola Championship, 13 in League 1 and seven in League 2.

Football League Trust General Manager Dave Edmundson said: "I would like to heartily congratulate all the clubs who have achieved their Silver award.

"This is a wonderful indication of the new levels of impact and engagement that schemes are bringing to the communities they serve.

"More importantly, this demonstrates the impressive range of projects and initiatives delivered by League clubs in all four themes, and the partnerships being established in both the public and private sectors."

Edmundson added: "Overall standards are high, and there is no doubt that the Trust, along with the support of all the clubs, intend to maintain this rising trend of improvement."

To achieve Silver status, the clubs had to fulfil a range of criteria set out by the Trust.

These include:

An approved level of governance, including representation of at least one senior club executive and at least two strategically-chosen external trustees on the scheme's board

At least one themed officer working on projects relating to one of the Football League Trust's four core themes (social inclusion/ community cohesion, health, education and sports participation)

A minimum of a three-year business plan showing sustainable programmes being delivered across all four of the Football League Trust's core themes.

Evidence of how funding provided by the Football League Trust is being utilised and how it will be used to attract additional funding into the schemes

Evidence of how schemes are linked into local decision making groups, for example Local Strategic Partnerships

Evidence on how the schemes works with the Football Club on issues relating to youth development

A strong player appearance policy

Charitable status in place

All clubs must also have met the Football League Trust Minimum Charter standard.