As we prepare this evening for our third and final Celtic Sleep Out event of the Christmas Appeal phase of the Football for Good Fund (FFGF), we look forward to welcoming supporters from in and around London, as they join us in raising vital funds, to be invested in the city.

We now take a timely look at two of the London-based organisations set to benefit from the funds raised through this year’s London Sleep Out event – St Anne’s Primary School and St Anne’s Church, in Whitechapel.

Participants will be welcomed tonight into the Church for the introduction and briefing segments of the event before spending the night battling the elements outdoors in the playground of the school.

The venues hold huge historical and emotional significance for the Celtic Family. In 1892, five years after his leading role in the formation of Celtic Football Club, the Marist Order moved Brother Walfrid from Glasgow, to the Whitechapel area of London’s East End.

Over the next 15 years, as Head Teacher at St Anne’s Primary, Brother Walfrid transformed the school and also established local boys’ clubs and a project to provide meals to the poor in the local community.

Proceeds raised through the London Sleep Out will see both the church and school receive vital donations, allowing them to provide support and assistance to a number of children and families within the local community.

Donations in the past have allowed St Anne’s Primary School to offer pupils fun festive activities such as Christmas parties and pantomime trips, but in the past 18 months the focus for Head Teacher, Sheila Mouna has been on providing basic amenities throughout the community.

Sheila spoke of St Anne’s’ work in the community through the school, saying: “We use donations and other extra funds to buy food vouchers for our disadvantaged families and share these throughout the school holidays.

“During the periods of lockdown, we kept the school open and delivered food parcels to many of our families. Some of them are in need of uniforms and household equipment, so any help we receive goes towards allowing us to fulfil these needs.

‘I would like to thank Celtic FC Foundation for once again including us as an Appeal beneficiary.’

“We pay for a school councillor and an extra academic tutor at the school, while also running a Social Emotional and Mental Health support group, which is extremely important in these challenging times. The Foundation’s support helps so much in funding these vital services.”

Father Patrick Longo Francischini of St Anne’s Church added: “We look forward to welcoming the Sleep Out participants to St Anne’s Church, Whitechapel.

“We are very grateful for the incredible work your supporters have done, including the help given to the less fortunate people in our chaplaincy. Through the contributions you all have made, many families have been assisted in their basic needs.”

St Anne’s Primary School and Church join Loaves and Fishes, Spirit Aid, 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 Appeal beneficiaries confirmed thus far.

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. 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]
11. 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.