Blackpool FC Community Trust column: Thousands of reasons to thank you for Festive Fundraiser donations
During December, Blackpool Football Club and the club’s Community Trust were busy collecting, wrapping and distributing gifts for local children at risk of not receiving a present on Christmas Day.
Working closely with Blackpool schools, the Community Trust estimated that nearly 1,500 children in Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2) may wake up without a gift to open on Christmas Day.
This year’s operation began with deliveries of various items forming the gift box – supported by Blackpool FC’s club shop – to Bloomfield Road.
There, the Community Trust organised a wrapping afternoon and invited club staff, students and volunteers to join us in wrapping and bagging the gifts, ready to be distributed across the town.
Then, on Thursday, December 18, Community Trust staff were joined by Blackpool FC first-team players Ashley Fletcher, Tom Bloxham, Fraser Horsfall, James Husband, Lee Evans, Jordan Brown, Michael Ihiekwe, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Josh Bowler, Niall Ennis, CJ Hamilton, Hayden Coulson, Albie Morgan, Dale Taylor and Scott Banks to help drop off gifts at the local schools on these days.
In addition to handing over the gifts, the players stayed for question and answer sessions with groups of pupils and posed for photos with children and staff, as well as signing memorabilia to help spread some festive cheer.
Thirty-three Blackpool schools received gifts as part of this year’s campaign, with mainstream, special education needs schools and pupil referral units all benefiting from the donations.
Thank you to everyone who has donated in 2025’s appeal as, together, we raised more than £14,000!
You have contributed to the huge impact this has had on so many families across Blackpool.