Blackpool FC Community Trust column: Spreading some Christmas cheer to residents

Here at Blackpool FC Community Trust (BFCCT), we value everyone in the community and believe nobody deserves to celebrate Christmas alone.

On Christmas Day, for the third year running, BFCCT volunteers and staff visited 29 local people who are socially isolated or vulnerable and would have spent the day without seeing anybody.

Seb Draper, BFCCT’s Active Through Football Manager, volunteered on Christmas Day and said: “It was a lovely morning and so heart-warming to see the smiles on people’s faces who would ordinarily have spent the day on their own.”

One gentleman, who was visited on Christmas Day morning, said: “I was looking forward to seeing you again after last year’s visit. It made my day.”

Each person received cards made by pupils attending Park Community Academy, Woodlands School and Highfurlong School, as well as a box of mince pies and a gift.

As part of BFCCT’s ongoing efforts to support our community – in addition to our weekly sessions such as Sporting Memories, Walk and Talks, Extra Time and NAFFI – and thanks to support from Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool Council and Segantii Capital Management, we are now able to invite members of our community to free Warm Up Hubs in the Moretti Lounge at Blackpool FC stadium.

The aim is to work together to help tackle some of the cost-of-living challenges for the local community this winter.

We would love to welcome you to our ‘Pool Together Hubs’ which take place from 12pm to 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This is the perfect opportunity for those who are normally alone or at home during the day to visit the comforting environment here at the stadium.

Not only is the Pool Together Hub an opportunity to keep warm without the extra energy costs, but it provides an opportunity to engage in activities, have a drink and chat with others.

We are also holding Family Warm-Up Hubs from 3pm-6pm on Mondays to Fridays.

The session includes a free hot meal as well as a variety of activities from arts and crafts to movie areas and family games.

The Winter Warm-Up Hubs are free of charge with the Moretti Lounge accessed in the North West corner of Bloomfield Road, next to Blackpool FC Community Trust’s Education and Community Centre.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the Big Food Truck from Blackpool Food Bank will be at our North Stand Community Hub on Tuesday, January 10 (2pm-4pm).

There will be the opportunity to collect a family food parcel for £5 or a single parcel for £3.

We look forward to welcoming the community back to our sessions in 2023.

For more information about Blackpool FC Community Trust, call 01253 348692, visit: www.bfcct.co.uk or follow BFCCT on social media.