Our £250,000 winter response commitment
Written By Jake Gray
The SPFL Trust is injecting £250,000 into Scottish football communities in response to the challenges facing people across the country this winter.
We are delighted to be ploughing such a significant sum into our winter response effort, with four initiatives being rolled out to support our associated trusts and clubs (ATCs) in delivering powerful programmes.
A brand-new £100,000 Winter Support Fund has been launched to provide clubs with additional funding to deliver projects in their area.
We have seen terrific uptake in the application process, with more details to be revealed in due course as we allocate funding.
Trusts and clubs will also, for a seventh year, deliver Festive Friends – bringing Christmas cheer to those that need it most during the holiday season.
Whether it’s via doorstep deliveries of hampers to the elderly and vulnerable or bringing isolated members of the community into stadiums for a Christmas lunch or dinner, Festive Friends is a brilliant opportunity for clubs to give back to their local communities.
It is our biggest-ever Festive Friends which will see all 42 SPFL clubs take part, as well as Cowdenbeath, who have been granted a year’s grace following their relegation to the Lowland League.
The campaign has the largest-ever fund this year, a total of £133,000, which means the SPFL Trust will be able to support an extra 1,000 people via clubs and community trusts.
As such, the programme is expected to support over 4,000 people this year across Scotland.
It’s been a difficult year so far for everyone with the cost of living crisis, but, of course, winter is always a particularly tough time for the elderly, who are at higher risk of social isolation.
Festive Friends brings Christmas cheer and companionship to elderly people who are socially isolated and at risk of being alone during the festive season.
Almost 9,000 people have enjoyed Festive Friends in the last six years and that number is expected to reach nearly 15,000.
Hampers usually contain food, snacks, essential toiletries, gifts, games and more. Some clubs even send video messages from managers and players; others have players make personal deliveries.
This year, given the current crisis facing the country, the SPFL Trust has also organised for Age Scotland Friendship Line flyers to be distributed in each hamper featuring helpful information.
In addition to these two initiatives, we also now have a cost of living hub landing page on our website with helpful resources from the likes of Age Scotland and the Scottish Government.
We’ve compiled a list that can help you with the likes of your energy bills, mortgage payments and budgeting, as well as support with your wellbeing and mental health. We are on your side.
Access support here: https://spfltrust.org.uk/winter/
The SPFL Trust will also provide trusts and clubs with Transfer Zone collection points to be stationed at grounds across the country.
SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid said: “We are delighted to be rolling out our winter response, doing our bit to support communities across Scotland in these tough times.
“While Christmas and New Year is a time of celebration for many; it is also an extremely challenging environment for more people than ever.
“It’s the Christmas spirit in action as we see the power of football in spades – with clubs spreading cheer in their communities.
“Scottish football is trusted to support, and our recent research shows that almost 83% of people live within ten miles of a SPFL ground – because of this clubs and their associated community trusts are well positioned to effect this type of change in their communities.
“This year 43 SPFL clubs are involved making it our biggest programme yet, supported by a record-breaking fund of £250,000. We look forward to supporting more people than ever before.”
For more information on Festive Friends visit: www.spfltrust.org.uk/festivefriends