AS we prepare for this evening’s Celtic Sleep Out, London, we now take a look at some of the London-based organisations which will benefit from the funds raised through this year’s Christmas Appeal.

Participants will be welcomed tonight into St Anne’s Church for the introduction and briefing elements of the event before spending the night battling the elements outdoors at St Anne’s Primary School.

The venues hold huge historical and emotional significance for the Celtic Family. In 1892, five years after his leading role in the formation of Celtic Football Club, the Marist Order moved Brother Walfrid from Glasgow, to the Whitechapel area of London’s East End.

Over the next 15 years, as Head Teacher at St Anne’s Primary, Brother Walfrid transformed the school and also established local boys’ clubs and a project to provide meals to the poor in the local community.

Proceeds raised through this year’s appeal will see both the church and primary school receive vital donations, allowing them to provide support and assistance to a number of children and families within the local community.

Support in the past has allowed St Anne’s Primary School to offer their pupils fun festive activities such as Christmas parties and pantomime trips, as well as provide a Christmas gift for each child.

Head Teacher, Sheila Mouna spoke of St Anne’s’ gratitude for the support received, saying: “The donations received by St Anne’s Primary through Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas Appeal have made so many of our children very happy by funding our pantomime, Christmas party, and also the present of a book for each child.

“Any money left over after that has also helped us to fund some of our after-school clubs, such as our Drama and Karate clubs. I would like to thank Celtic FC Foundation for continuing the legacy of Brother Walfrid in East London and making it a special Christmas for the children at St Anne’s.”

Father Paulo Bagini of St Anne’s Church added: “It is a great joy once more to welcome the Sleep Out participants to St Anne’s Church, Whitechapel. Thanks to the donation we received last year, we were able to help so many people in dire need. “

In addition to the support provided to St Anne’s Church and Primary School, London’s Cardinal Hume Centre will also be a recipient of funds raised through the appeal.

The Cardinal Hume Centre aims to provide homeless young people, families in need and people within their local communities, the support required to realise their full potential.

The centre can accommodate more than 30 homeless young residents at any one time and also provides support to hundreds of others who access their day services. By offering advice and support it aims to give their residents the skills needed to overcome poverty and homelessness.

Patricia Marron of Cardinal Hume Centre highlighted the importance of the donation received through the Foundation’s Christmas Appeal. She said: “Support received from Celtic FC Foundation’s Appeal will allow the Cardinal Hume Centre to help over 500 people to have a better Christmas.

“Over the festive season, the centre will host three parties for over 180 local children and parents who are facing disadvantage and poverty. They will enjoy food, entertainment, a visit to Santa’s grotto and each child and parent will receive a gift.

“The Cardinal Hume Centre will also provide a home to 35 young people facing homelessness – offering fun festive outings, dinner on Christmas day, a personalised gift for each young person and around the clock support staff. A further 150 gifts will be given to other vulnerable people and an emergency food store will be in operation in December to help over 200 people facing food poverty.

“The Cardinal Hume Centre are so grateful for the continued support of Celtic FC Foundation. The donation at Christmas has allowed us to assist some of the most vulnerable people in society including child refugees, homeless young people and disadvantaged families. All will be helped over the festive period, a time that can often be lonely and difficult for those facing isolation and poverty.”

St Anne’s Primary School and Church and the Cardinal Hume Centre join Loaves and Fishes, The Invisibles, Glasgow East Women’s Aid, St Roch’s FC Foundation and Elpis Centre and the Salvation Army Parkhead as the beneficiaries of this year’s appeal which have been confirmed thus far.

Our appeal aims to honour the founding principles set out when the club was formed back in 1887, by continuing to help those in our community, who are most in need. We want to help hundreds of local families facing poverty by giving them the kind of Christmas most of us take for granted.

We also want to support pensioners on our doorstep and help out local charities. We can make a massive difference to the lives of children, the homeless, refugees and those living in refuge or facing other challenges.

Christmas is a time to give and share. And the Glasgow Celtic will be there.

To get behind the Christmas Appeal 2019, you can:

1.Donate by Text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*

2.Donate Online

3.Donate via PayPal – www.CelticChristmasAppeal.com

4.Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores

5.Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE.

6.Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and Amazon Smile – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17086

7.Contribute via our Christmas Appeal eBay auction which will take place between Thursday, December 5 and Tuesday, December 10.

Make a donation to receive your ‘Celtic FC Foundation Letter from Santa’ – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17114

9.Support our match-day bucket collection on Sunday, December 15 – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17171

10.Purchase the original song from this year’s Celtic Christmas advert, ‘Star Of Glasgow's Green & White’ HERE. Proceeds will support our 2019 Appeal.

Thank you for your magnificent support.

*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message.

Brother Walfrid’s London legacy continues with Christmas Appeal