Celtic FC Foundation is delighted to announce that it has made a £25,000 donation through the Football for Good Fund to Glasgow’s Golden Generation (GGG) to support its Winter Warmer Appeal, focussing on fuel poverty and rising costs.

The donation will provide fuel vouchers for pre-payment meters, energy efficiency advice and income maximisation checks through the GGG Welfare and Careline Team. This team supports over 1,200 older adults in Glasgow every year.

This initiative is part of a wider commitment within Celtic FC Foundation to tackle the worsening cost-of-living crisis, which is set to affect the most vulnerable in our communities over the course of 2022 and the near future.

We are just a month away from the energy price cap renewal, which is estimated to push fuel bills up to a predicted £2,000 a year per household. Increases in the cost of food, travel and clothing are also expected to rise, pushing thousands of individuals and families into poverty.

Tony Hamilton, chief executive of Celtic FC Foundation said: “The increasing cost of living is a major crisis which is affecting many people, and it’s set to get worse in the coming months.

‘The rising cost of fuel and food is something we are focused on and Glasgow’s Golden Generation have proven to be a very effective partner for us, to get to the right people quickly.’

“This is only possible because of the backing we’ve had through our Football For Good Fund, so an enormous thanks to everyone who has contributed to that.”

Glasgow’s Golden Generation, formerly known as GOPWA, has been providing care since it was established as the Glasgow’s Old People’s Welfare Committee in 1948.

Services include befriending projects, three day centres, weekly social clubs, a careline, digital inclusion and benefits advice projects across Glasgow, all of which support older adults. Each of GGG’s projects are targeted to reduce isolation in older adults and to relieve loneliness.

Richard Donald, Chief Executive of GGG said: “During lockdown, the Foundation helped fund thousands of food parcel deliveries to homes; also providing hampers and supermarket vouchers, as well as supporting GGG’s Befriending Service to ensure that hundreds of isolated and vulnerable older adults could communicate with specialist support workers.

“Currently the focus is on fuel poverty and we are hugely grateful to Celtic FC Foundation for once again supporting, and funding aspects of our Welfare and Careline Team. With often limited, fixed incomes, it can be hard for over 65s to adjust to price increases, particularly when it means deciding which essentials take priority.

“We’re hearing really distressing stories from our service users that they’re sitting in cold homes, not eating properly or feel lonely and isolated.

“With Celtic FC Foundation’s help we can make sure no older adult in Glasgow needs to choose between heating or eating this winter.

“It’s simply unthinkable in 2022 that any over 65 can’t do both.”

For further details on the Football for Good Fund or any other Celtic FC Foundation activities, please email [email protected] and we will respond to you.