With December 25 only a few weeks away, Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas Appeal spotlight series continues by uncovering the work of London-based poverty relief charity, the Cardinal Hume Centre.

The Cardinal Hume Centre provides accommodation for young people experiencing homelessness, as well as a range of support services for families living in poverty in London. The Centre helps individuals living with familial breakdown, abuse, trauma, or having fled places of conflict – offering income advice, housing support, access to education, legal guidance and much more.

Over the past several years, supporters’ generosity has allowed the Foundation to boost the vital services of organisations like the Cardinal Hume Centre, including a £15,000 COVID-19 response donation earlier this year as part of our ongoing Football for Good Fund.

Cardinal Hume Centre’s Patricia Marron, emphasised how Celtic FC Foundation’s support has continually made a difference, saying:

'Celtic FC Foundation has been a fantastic support to the Centre over the last eight years, in particular in supporting our Christmas activities (for the last four years) to help families in need and homeless young people with food, gifts and Christmas celebrations.'

“More recently, the Foundation reached out at the beginning of the pandemic to help fund our programme aiding the most vulnerable with food and essentials - support which has helped hundreds of disadvantaged through the crisis.”

Patricia also reflected on a difficult year for the Centre, adding: “We have seen a huge increase in demand for our services, as people lose their jobs and are worried about losing their homes – this demand will continue into 2021.

“The Centre has remained open, our hostel has provided a home to 40 young people who have experienced homelessness and we continue to offer specialist advice to help people remain in their home, access financial support and to help those who have lost their jobs get back into work (over the phone and in person where necessary).

“We have seen a 60% in demand for specialist advice since April and are doing our utmost to help as many people as we can.”

With many facing a challenging festive period, Patricia reiterated the impact of Celtic FC Foundation’s contributions over the years, underlining the Appeal’s power to positively transform people’s realities. Patricia said: “Christmas is such a difficult time for the vulnerable families and homeless young people the Cardinal Hume Centre supports.

'For the last four years, the generosity of Celtic FC Foundation and their fans, has helped fund the Cardinal Hume Centre’s Christmas activities, supporting hundreds of children, young people and those at risk of homelessness – it’s brought joy to hundreds of vulnerable people.'

Through the Appeal, we want to help hundreds of local families, giving them the kind of Christmas most of us take for granted. With lots of food on the table and gifts for the kids. Making sure Santa pays a visit on Christmas Eve, despite COVID-19.

We also want to support pensioners on our doorstep, by lending a hand at a difficult time of year. Local charities need our help too. We can make a massive difference to the lives of children, the homeless, refugees and those living in refuge or facing other challenges.

Further details on the Christmas Appeal phase of the Football for Good Fund and how you can get involved, can be found HERE

The generosity and compassion of the Celtic Family is truly unique and unrivalled and we thank you for your magnificent support.

Foundation Christmas Appeal spotlight: The Cardinal Hume Centre