As we are nearing the end of the Christmas Appeal phase of our Football for Good Fund (FFGF), the spotlight series today falls upon the work of our next beneficiary, Elpis Centre.

Initially formed in 1974, Elpis Centre operates in the Ruchill area of Glasgow and provides accommodation for up to 18 young women at a time, aged between 16 to 25, who have found themselves facing homelessness or other challenges.

Elpis aims to prepare these young women for independence through tailored plans that focus on developing living and social skills, as well as learning and employment opportunities. The charity maintains a focus on health and emotional wellbeing to support them to maximise opportunities to develop and grow.

A long-term partner of Celtic FC Foundation, Elpis has continued to benefit each Christmas Appeal from our generous supporters and this year, the support is as vital to the women’s mental health and wellbeing as it ever has been.

Mary Carrick of Elpis Centre said: “The support from Celtic FC Foundation makes a huge difference to the lives of the young women in Elpis. We have been, in the past, able to provide them with warm winter clothing and also top up their fuel during the cold winter months.

"The women have been able to enjoy Christmas treats that many of us take for granted, like a cinema visit or shopping trip to choose a winter jacket.”

With cuts to Universal Credit as well as the current fuel crisis, the women from Elpis can’t spare the money to buy items many would see as essential. Support from the Foundation allows Elpis to provide a sense of independence.

Mary continued: “This really does mean the world to the women, the confidence that is gained through being able to buy a new jacket that they have actually chosen is immeasurable. Being able to enjoy some sort of Christmas, being guaranteed food and a few gifts makes all the difference. We would all like to thank the supporters of Celtic FC Foundation for their immense kindness.”

Being a beneficiary through this year’s Christmas Appeal will allow Elpis to provide the vital human touch to their work that can often be missing in these women’s lives.

Elpis Centre is the latest Appeal beneficiary to be confirmed, joining Hope Kitchen Oban, Ballymote SVDP, Newcastle West End Foodbank, Scottish Refugee Council, Refugee Survival Trust, Glasgow Women’s Aid, Glasgow East Women’s Aid, The Wayside Club, Refuweegee, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, The Cardinal Hume Centre, Borderline, Bow Foodbank, St Anne’s Primary School, St Anne’s Church, Loaves and Fishes, Spirit Aid, the Salvation Army, Safe in Scotland, Glasgow City Mission, PEEK, St Roch’s FC Foundation, The Invisibles, Woman’s Aid Dublin and Women’s Aid Belfast and Lisburn.

Through the Appeal we want to give hundreds of families in our communities the Christmas they deserve, making sure there’s food on the table and gifts under the tree.

We also wish to help pensioners, women and children in refuge, the homeless community and refugees – as well as a whole host of others facing poverty and hardship.

Charity, and the generosity and compassion of the Celtic Family, will always be our past, present and future – it’s our heritage, our responsibility, our lifeblood.

Please join Celtic FC Foundation in making a difference this Christmas – it’s our reason for being.

The key ways to get behind the Christmas Appeal 2021, include:

Donate by text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*
Donate online HERE
Donate via PayPal HERE
Donate via Facebook HERE
Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE.
Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and AmazonSmile HERE
Purchase our brand new Foundation T-shirt HERE
Download Eddi Reader’s unique version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, featured in this year’s Celtic Christmas advert HERE
Enter our new Christmas Appeal Prize Draw HERE

Thank you for your magnificent support.

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

Foundation Christmas Appeal spotlight: The Elpis Centre