Over December, Blackpool Football Club and 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, 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.
On Thursday 18th December 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 Q&As with groups of pupils, posed for photos with children and staff, and signed 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 this year. Together, we raised over £14,000! You have contributed to the huge impact this has had on so many families across Blackpool.
