Falkirk FC thrilled to once again be part of Festive Friends

The SPFL Trust launched this year's Festive Friends at The Falkirk Stadium with Lomond the Lion, David McCracken and Lee Miller (Pic: Craig Watson)

The foundation will be one of 37 associated community trusts and SPFL clubs across Scotland bringing Christmas cheer to those that need it most this year with a new-look initiative designed to support socially isolated older people.

Festive Friends is now into its fifth year and funding previously announced from James Anderson and the SPFL Trust’s second anonymous donor mean that a total of £87,700 will be committed to this year’s campaign.

That means that the SPFL Trust will be able to more than double the number of people clubs are able to support.

As such, more than 2,400 people will receive a doorstep visit to their home and a Christmas hamper, delivered by a friendly face from their local SPFL club.

Dave MacKay Football Development Officer, Falkirk Foundation, commented: “We are delighted to be part of the Festive Friends programme this Christmas.

"In previous years here we have managed to host a Xmas lunch with some elderly members of our community, which of course is not possible this year.

"Festive Friends at Home has given us the amazing opportunity to still connect with those most at need, by way of us providing food hampers through the generous funding from the SPFL Trust.

"We will be organising and sorting out our food hampers in the coming days, with a view for us to be out delivering the following week.

"Special thanks to the Football Fans in Training men’s group, that will also be helping us to build the hampers and deliver them to our community.

"If this gesture from the Falkirk Foundation can bring a little joy to someone over the festive period, after such a difficult and challenging year for us all, then that is all we can hope to achieve.

"We are an integral part of our community and we must do our bit to try and make this a happy Christmas for our elderly and vulnerable in the local community."

ATCs will receive referrals through existing programmes, external partners and public agencies, as would normally happen for Festive Friends.

Ordinarily, Festive Friends takes place at SPFL club stadia across the country.

Participants enjoy a tasty Christmas lunch, fun and games, a club gift, as well as the means to get there and home.

Almost 4,000 people have enjoyed an event in the last four years.

Physical distancing rules mean that isn’t possible in 2020, so clubs are flipping the entire operation, and will head into their communities to make thousands of doorstep visits.