Volunteer Steven is on the ball
Written By Jake Gray
Community Trusts and clubs all over Scotland are fortunate to have many fantastic volunteers, and none more so than St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation.
Steven Holgan, 56, is a huge St Mirren fan, and attends games with his family as a season ticket holder. His love of the club has led him down his current path as a volunteer.
He first discovered the foundation in 2019 when he joined their Football Fans in Training (FFIT) programme, six months after he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The programme, which focuses on physical fitness and mental wellbeing, was greatly beneficial for Steven.
Before finding FFIT, he struggled with both his mental and physical health, losing confidence in himself.
“I was in a dark place mentally and my physical ability wasn’t great either”, Steven said.
“FFIT helped me both physically and mentally and it got me through a really tough Christmas after I had been having a difficult time at work.”
Steven Holgan, sporting this season’s St Mirren home top
Multiple Sclerosis meant that Steven had to retire at the age of 54, and having benefited from programmes at the foundation, he felt that he wanted to give back to others in his community.
“My MS made my job impossible,” he continued.
“My wife, Karen, and I have helped out with Festive Friends sessions on Christmas Day, serving food at the club one year and delivering to households during covid the next couple of years.
“Although I’m volunteering to help others, my work with the foundation really helps me as well. I feel like I am a part of the organisation and that I am useful again. After losing a lot of my confidence, this has really helped me get it back.
“I hope I can continue to help and support The St Mirren Charitable Foundation and give back to an organisation that helped me, so it can help others. It does so much for our community and I’m delighted to be a part of it in some way.”
As well as Festive Friends and FFIT, Steven volunteers his time on St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation’s Football Memories, Big Buddie Scran and Festive Tea Party.
SPFL trusts and clubs are heavily reliant on volunteers like Steven to provide their fantastic services and programmes.
To find out more about the St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation and the programmes they run, take a look at their Twitter and Facebook.