QPR players have donated more than £8,000 to the newly-formed QPR in the Community Trust, writes David McIntyre.

Player/coach Gareth Ainsworth presented a cheque at Tuesday night's official launch of the Trust, held at the House of Lords.

It marked the re-launch of Rangers' community scheme, which has been run by Andy Evans for the last 14 years.

Becoming a Trust involves gaining official charity status, opening up new avenues in terms of fundraising and other benefits.

"The players were more than happy to help," said Rs winger Lee Cook.

"Andy Evans has been trying to set up this Trust for a long time and now he's done it, I'm so pleased for him.

"It's a big thing for the club too - especially the players. We get involved in it and I certainly have got more involved at QPR than the other clubs I've been at. That's probably because I support them, but a lot of players do come to QPR and seem to really care about it. I don't know what it is about this place, there's just something about it.

"It is important that the club reaches out to people. It can play a big role in the community."

While Rangers' community scheme can claim to have positively affected close to 100,000 lives in the last year, it is hoped that three years from now that figure will more than double to around 250,000.

Speakers at Tuesday's event included the mother of a child with Down's Syndrome who plays for the QPR Tiger Cubs' team, as well as a youngster whose education was flagging before he became involved in a QPR-backed initiative.

Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia, who is the QPR in the Community chairman, said: "It's something I feel very passionately about and we had a great turnout, so I'm really pleased.

"As a club, we need to do the best that we can do and give as much back to the community as we can.

"The Trust will be a community service. I think we're doing a very good job already but we'll move forward and get involved in many more interesting things."

Lord Burns, a lifelong QPR fan and former club director, hosted Tuesday's event, which was attended by the Rangers squad as well as former players Kevin Gallen and Clive Wilson.

"We applaud Amit Bhatia and the work of Andy Evans and his team. It's magnificent what they're doing," said Steve Russell of the Independent Rs website.

* For details about the Trust, log on to www.qprcommunitytrust.co.uk .