‘A Time for Giving’ has so far funded the equivalent of 76,000 hours of free football community sessions, to support the health of young people in Manchester in 2023 and beyond, raising £190,000 and counting.
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 clothing items.
Alongside this, the Club has matched additional donations made by fans and staff to increase the overall funds for City in the Community football programmes, up to the value of £75,000 in total (which has now been reached)*.
Every £10 raised will enable a young person to enjoy the equivalent of four hours of free football and a healthy lunch in the school holidays in 2023 and beyond.
The Club has also continued its annual support for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital through the donation of more than 400 gift bags to children staying in the hospital over the festive period.
For the first time in three years following the pandemic, players from the men’s first team handed out the gift bags in person when they surprised the young patients with a visit last week.
Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez, Rico Lewis and Stefan Ortega Moreno spent time talking and playing with the patients, as well as meeting nurses and doctors at the local hospital.
Manchester City Women also made surprise visits to The Christie and Francis House, helping to share some festive cheer.
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City player, took part in a surprise visit to a City in the Community session to celebrate the A Time for Giving campaign donation.
Commenting on the day, he said: “It’s obvious from my visit today how much these children enjoy playing football with City in the Community coaches. Their enthusiasm is infectious.
“The impact of playing football on physical and mental wellbeing should not be underestimated, and it makes me proud to know that Manchester City and its fans are creating real opportunities for young people through the Club’s campaign this Christmas.”
Nedum Onuoha, former Manchester City player and City in the Community Trustee, said: “The success of the ‘A Time for Giving’ campaign so far has been amazing. It encapsulates the community values of Manchester City and builds on the donation of Christmas gifts and footballs to every child in East Manchester over the past two years, by providing opportunities to play the game, stay healthy and make new friends in 2023.
“Having grown up in the local area experiencing City in the Community’s football programmes first hand, I know just how impactful these funds will be. Free football sessions for children in Manchester won’t just increase their levels of physical activity, but boost confidence, self-esteem, and mental wellbeing.
“At the same time, 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.”
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.
The ‘A Time for Giving’ Christmas campaign is live until Saturday 31 December, meaning fans can still make donations to top-up the total.
To make a donation online to City in the Community, visit here.
To find out more about the campaign, visit here.
*MCFC has donated £5 for each sold Christmas clothing product and matched donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) via Manchester City channels during the period of 01 November 2022 to 31 December 2022 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total, which has now been reached.
