AS our Christmas Appeal continues, we take a look at the work of Elpis Centre, another of the organisations which will benefit from your donations this festive period.
Elpis Centre, based in the Ruchill area of Glasgow, accommodates homeless and vulnerable young women aged 16 to 25 years. Up to nine service-users with high to medium needs can be housed in the main ‘cor’ building, which is manned 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, by professionally qualified and fully vetted staff.
Service users with less complex needs may be placed in one of the nine scatter flats within the surrounding streets where appropriate.
As well as providing a safe place to stay, it offers these young women a secure environment where they can develop life skills and receive guidance on positive decision making, allowing them to progress and move towards a fully independent life in the community.
Elpis Centre looks to provide its service users with a Christmas meal, gifts and outings to make the festive period as special as possible.
Service Manager, Mary Carrick, highlighted the importance of the support received and expressed her gratitude.
“The support received from Celtic FC Foundation has been of tremendous value for Elpis Centre,” she said. “The donation allowed us to top up all of the young women’s heating, as well as give them a food parcel, which meant they were able to have more money to spend over the holiday period.
“We also provided each service user with a Christmas gift. We work at giving the young women who live here the same experiences that other people would have at this time of year. A big part of that is socialisation. Therefore, we ensure that they have the opportunity to go see the latest movie or go out for a meal.
“The donation last year also allowed us to take them on group activities to places such as M&Ds and Blair Drummond Safari Park, giving the young women something to look forward to in the New Year.”
Support received through this year’s Appeal will allow Elpis Centre to once again provide its service users with food parcels, heating and a Christmas gift, as well as arrange various outings.
Mary added: “I would like to thank all of the people who have generously donated. This support makes a big difference to these young women’s lives. Thank you so much.”
Elpis Centre is among a host of beneficiaries who will receive support through Celtic FC Foundation’s 2018 Christmas Appeal.
Those announced so far include; Scottish Refugee Council, The Invisibles, St Roch’s FC Foundation, Glasgow City Mission, Spirit Aid, Salvation Army Parkhead, Refuweegee, Simon Community Scotland, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Loaves and Fishes, Glasgow East Women’s Aid, plus three London-based organisations – St Anne’s Primary School, St Anne’s Church and the Cardinal Hume Centre – and two in Ireland – Women’s Aid Dublin and Women’s Aid Belfast and Lisburn.
Through the Appeal, we want to help hundreds of local families facing poverty. Giving them the kind of Christmas most of us take for granted. With lots of food on the table and gifts for the kids. Making sure Santa pays a visit on Christmas Eve.
We also want to support pensioners on our doorstep, by lending a hand at a difficult time of year. Local charities need our help too. We can make a massive difference to the lives of children, the homeless, those living in refuge, refugees and those facing other challenges.
Your generosity has been overwhelming so far but there’s still time to get involved. You can get behind the Christmas Appeal in the following ways:
1. Donate by Text – text ‘CELT07’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70070
2. Donate Online HERE
3. Donate via Paypal HERE
4. Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
5. Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow, G40 3RE.
6. Give As You Live via your Christmas Shopping HERE
7. Download Toy Tin Soldier’s charity single ‘A Club Where All Belong’ HERE
Thank you for helping us to Make Dreams Come True this Christmas.
