‘The Greatest Season of All’ includes gift giving, community events and fundraising, and has so far funded the equivalent of 5,760 hours of free 1-2-1 and group mentoring, with a total of £200,000 raised and counting.
Funds raised will help create healthier futures for young people in Manchester through targeted mentoring and community football outreach from City in the Community coaches, focusing on building confidence, life skills, and career aspirations.
Mentoring sessions will include workshops on mental wellbeing, youth-violence prevention, and programmes to support a reduction in reoffending after prison.
Since early November, the Club has been donating £5 to its charity, City in the Community (registered charity no. 1139229), for every purchase a fan makes from a range of selected Christmas retail items.
Alongside this, the Club has been trebling additional donations made by fans and staff to increase the total overall funds for City in the Community football programmes, up to the value of £75,000 in total*.
The Club has also continued it support of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital through the donation of more than 500 gift bags and blankets to children staying in the hospital over the festive period. Players from the men’s first team handed out the gift bags in person when they surprised young patients and City in the Community participants with a visit last week.
Manchester City Women also made a surprise visit to Francis House, to share some festive cheer.
Elsewhere this Christmas, City in the Community has been supporting local people with a calendar of free events at the Etihad Campus, as well as helping Manchester-based organisations and foodbanks through donations and volunteering, including support from Manchester City’s EDS squad.
John Stones, who visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital alongside the full men’s squad, said: “I have visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital a few times now and always feel so inspired after meeting so many incredible people. This year has been no different and I know all of the lads are really proud to be here.
“I especially enjoyed our visit to the Teen Zone, where we were able to spend time playing games with some huge City fans from the hospital and City in the Community. I hope those memories go some way towards creating a special Christmas for them all.
“But Christmas is about more than just one day, and it makes me proud to know that Manchester City and its fans are creating real, impactful opportunities for young people through the Club’s festive campaign this season.”
Danny Wilson, Managing Director – Manchester City Operations and City in the Community Trustee, said:
“The success of ‘The Greatest Season of All’ campaign so far has been amazing. It encapsulates the community values of Manchester City through gift giving, community events and fundraising.
“As a Club we are passionate about responding to the needs of people in our local community and, with rates of deprivation and crime higher in East Manchester than anywhere else across the city, providing mentoring support for young people is crucial.
“I’m also incredibly proud that the Club continues its fantastic support for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, as well as donating items to foodbanks and hosting events at the Club for those in need this time of year.”
Angela Rowe, Deputy Director of Charity for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, said: “City’s visit is always a huge highlight in the Christmas calendar and I know it really brought a lift to our patients. We’re so happy to be able to partner with the club in this way.”
‘The Greatest Season of All’ Christmas campaign is live until Sunday 31 December, meaning fans can still make donations to top-up the total.
To make a donation, or find out more about the campaign, visit www.mancity.com/GreatestSeason.
*MCFC will donate £5 for each sold Christmas product** and will treble donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) during the period of 06 November 2023 to 31 December 2023 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total.
**Five Christmas Jumpers, Family Pyjama Set, Dressing Gown and Oodie, Plush Santa Teddy Bear, Treble Book, Treble Football, Brown and Blue Plush Teddies, Moonbeam and Moonchester, Four Player Funko Pops
Manchester City’s ‘The Greatest Season of All’ Christmas activity broken down:
• 5,760 hours of free mentoring funded by £200,000 – and counting – raised through ‘The Greatest Season of All’ campaign, including the £75,000 donated by Manchester City.
• Over 500 gift bags, totalling over 1,800 items, gifted to patients at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Francis House.
• 800 pupils and supporting teachers from local primary schools invited to a free Christmas festival at the City Football Academy with City in the Community.
• 60 senior citizens and young carers invited to a free Christmas lunch at the Etihad Stadium with City in the Community.
• 40 toddlers, aged between two and five, and their families invited to a Christmas party at the City Football Academy with City in the Community.
• £10,000 donated to four food banks in East Manchester, Central Manchester and Wythenshawe, through City in the Community, funding 3,000 food parcels for local families.
• Local charities, Supporting People in Need, Emmeline’s Pantry, The Stirling Centre and The Grange Food Pantry, supported by 112 volunteers from City Football Group staff.
