Rochdale AFC given FA Community Award for its support for SUNRISE Team to raise awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation

Rochdale AFC has been honoured by Manchester County FA for its support of, and efforts to, champion the work being carried out by The Sunrise Team to tackle Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in Rochdale.

Manchester County FA presented the club with its Community Equality Award before kick-off at Saturday's match versus Plymouth Argyle at Spotland. The award is in recognition of Dale's commitment to champion and raise awareness of CSE in the borough.

Chief Executive of Manchester County FA, Colin Bridgford, was on hand to present the award to the club and said: “I was delighted to be able to present the award to Rochdale AFC. The club’s ability to reach a wider community will clearly help people understand the risk that is inherent to young people.”

In November last year a group of players recorded a video telling fans and the public to be on the look-out for signs of CSE and how to report these to the Sunrise team. The video was also made available on Rochdale AFC’s website, the Sunrise Team website and was sent out on social media networks.

Rochdale AFC Chief Executive Colin Garlick, commented: “We are really honoured to be given this award, but more importantly we are committed to raising awareness of CSE. It is a despicable crime against our young people and it has to be tackled.

"Everyone should be made aware of what it is, what the signs are and how to report it so that it can be prevented.

"The club is an integral part of Rochdale and the community and helping to raise awareness of CSE is our way of valuing the young people of this town.”