After a weekend when a group of supporters braved the cold at our Celtic Sleep Out event in London and our confirmation that St Anne’s Primary School and St Anne’s Church will benefit from their efforts, Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas Appeal spotlight series continues by uncovering the work of an additional three London-based charities set to receive donations due to monies raised on Friday night – the Cardinal Hume Centre, Borderline and Bow Foodbank.

The Cardinal Hume Centre provides accommodation for young people experiencing homelessness, as well as a range of support services for families living in poverty in London. The Centre helps individuals living with familial breakdown, abuse, trauma, or having fled places of conflict – offering income advice, housing support, access to education, legal guidance and much more.

Over the past few years, supporters’ generosity has allowed the Foundation to boost the vital services of organisations like the Cardinal Hume Centre, including through previous Christmas Appeals and also a £15K COVID-19 response donation in 2020, as part of the initial stages of our Football for Good Fund (FFGF).

Gaia Segal, Manager of Family Services said: “This year, again, families and individuals are having to prioritise feeding themselves over heating their houses and these are definitely the priorities for most, over buying presents. Last year, due to the support of Celtic FC Foundation, we were able to give out vouchers for people to spend on presents, as well as on essential food so they didn’t have to choose between them.”

Borderline is a charity which focuses on those suffering from hardship and homelessness. It aims to ensure rough sleepers in London can be assisted to lead a sustainable life off the streets.

Borderline has also previously benefitted through our Christmas Appeal and the Foundation’s support has allowed the organisation to make a real difference to people’s lives.

Chief Executive Shona Fleming said: “Last year, Borderline used the Foundation’s support to buy vouchers for clients, which were used over the Christmas period. Clients have been able to use these for various essentials, including food, hygiene products and mobile credit to better connect them to friends and support workers. As our clients approach another tough winter and in the wake of the Universal Credit cut, your support will again be invaluable.”

Bow Foodbank is a charity in Tower Hamlets, based just over a mile from St Anne’s Primary School and Church, where Brother Walfrid continued his work supporting those living in poverty after leaving Glasgow’s East End. Bow operates two foodbanks, one in Bow and the other in Bethnal Green. Both centres provide emergency food supplies to those who are in crisis due to financial difficulties and aim to offer food to those in need, in a friendly and hospitable way while not requiring a social work referral.

Christina Ball, Executive Director thanked Foundation supporters, saying: “The support from Celtic FC Foundation will help us to provide essentials, as well as an extra treat bag to our clients this Christmas. Winter is usually the most difficult time of year, especially this year with the increased cost of living, so people are struggling to manage. Thank you, on behalf of our foodbank visitors. This will make a real difference to what we can offer this festive season.”

The Foundation’s work in London continues to be vital in tackling poverty and funds raised at the London Sleep Out will make a huge difference to all five of our beneficiaries.

The Cardinal Hume Centre, Borderline UK and Bow Foodbank join St Anne’s Primary School, St Anne’s Church, Loaves and Fishes, Spirit Aid, the Salvation Army, Safe in Scotland, Glasgow City Mission, PEEK, St Roch’s FC Foundation, The Invisibles, Woman’s Aid in Dublin and Women’s Aid Belfast and Lisburn as the latest Appeal beneficiaries to be confirmed.

Through the Appeal we want to give hundreds of families in our communities the Christmas they deserve, making sure there’s food on the table and gifts under the tree.

We also wish to help pensioners, women and children in refuge, the homeless community and refugees – as well as a whole host of others facing poverty and hardship.

Charity, and the generosity and compassion of the Celtic Family, will always be our past, present and future – it’s our heritage, our responsibility, our lifeblood.

Please join Celtic FC Foundation in making a difference this Christmas – it’s our reason for being.

The key ways to get behind the Christmas Appeal 2021, include:

1. Donate by text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*
2. Donate online HERE
3. Donate via PayPal HERE
4. Donate via Facebook HERE
5. Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
6. Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE.
7. Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and AmazonSmile HERE
8. Make a donation to receive your ‘Celtic FC Foundation Letter from Santa’ HERE
9. Purchase our brand new Foundation T-shirt HERE
10. Download Eddi Reader’s unique version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, featured in this year’s Celtic Christmas advert HERE
11. Support our Light Up the Clover initiative on Thursday, December 9 or matchday bucket collection on Sunday, December 12 – to register as a volunteer collector, call 0141 551 4486 or email [email protected]
12. Enter our new Christmas Appeal Prize Draw – further details to follow.

Thank you for your magnificent support.

*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message.