We have a history of developing projects that we can deliver, that are sustainable, and that get results.

As a club, we also believe we have a duty to try to make a meaningful contribution to the community from which we draw our support.

Seeing the launch of our ‘Street Violence Ruins Lives’ campaign, it is having the chance to work on such important initiatives as this that makes me very proud to be an employee and, more importantly, a fan of Charlton Athletic.

Reading this, some supporters may well be asking what such a project has to do with the commercial operation of the club. I have long believed, even during my time at The Football League, that football could play a huge role in combating social ills and that, if the required level of funding can be allocated to football clubs to address issues such as this, the game could make a real difference.

I wrote recently that I believed it was vital for football to attract sponsors who want to do more than just place perimeter boards around the pitch and enjoy fine-dining in the match day restaurants and projects such as this help to highlight this point.

By working more closely with clubs, our business partners can develop their own corporate social responsibility strategies and, hopefully, unlock other important sources of funding for clubs and their community operations.

We have achieved a great deal in launching such a groundbreaking initiative today but every other club in the country has similar, innovative community initiatives that make a difference in their area.