Background to the BRIS Trust

Bristol Independent Supporters Trust (BRIS Trust) is an organisation dedicated to enabling its members, through collective strength, to influence the running of Bristol Rugby Club for the benefit of the wider community.

 

In short the BRIS Trust is a vehicle that enables supporters of Bristol Rugby Club to band together and pool their resources and their financial contribution, into a recognized and properly controlled body, which represents the views and objectives of the supporters.

 

In order to achieve this the BRIS Trust is a legally incorporated Industrial and Provident Society, which is regulated by the Financial Services Authority and has a democratic structure. It has a strict principle of one member one vote and all the officers of the Trust are democratically elected by the membership.

 

BRIS Trust is the first supporters’ Trust to exist in Rugby Union, however many already exist in Football and Rugby League. A government funded organisation known as Supporters Direct helps set these trusts up and provides details such as a model constitution and financial support (in some cases). To date around 90 trusts exist across the country with that figure expected to rise to around 130.

 

Trusts throughout Football have achieved great things enabling the survival of clubs where otherwise it would not have been possible. In some cases this has actually resulted in the Trust ending up owning the club in question. In almost all of the cases the trusts are entities independent from the club with the express goal of giving the supporters a voice in how the club is ultimately run.

 

It is the aim of BRIS Trust to give the supporters of Bristol Rugby Club a similar voice. Always remember - the BRIS Trust is here to benefit the supporters and the wider rugby community in Bristol. It does this through its democratic membership and cannot simply hand money over to anyone without the agreement of its membership via a vote.