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Festive appeal from Aberdeen FC helped thousands of north-east people


By Kyle Ritchie

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Thousands of people in the north-east were supported by Aberdeen Football Club and AFC Community Trust during the festive season.

The club and its trust assisted through its Calling Home for Christmas Campaign, wellbeing workshops, involvement in Cash for Kids Mission Christmas and fans fundraising.

Over the festive period, the calls team checked-in with more than 2500 fans, providing some cheer during a difficult time for many.

Almost 4000 calls were made by the team and were able to speak to 2537 fans who may have been suffering from loneliness, anxiety or depression.

Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust teamed up with Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas.
Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust teamed up with Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas.

With the new lockdown in place and acknowledging the positive impact of these welfare calls, the club and the trust have committed to continuing with the dedicated calls team for the foreseeable future.

More than 60 fans participated in two “Dons in Discussion” virtual wellbeing workshops where former players, Derek Young and Stuart Duff, talked about the highs and lows of their careers and the trust's David Smith discussed the importance of good mental health and how to support family and friends struggling with depression, anxiety and loneliness.

One hundred SPFL Trust Festive Friends hampers were delivered to vulnerable and isolated people over the Christmas period with support from the club’s catering partner, BaxterStorey.

The trust supported the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign which helped deliver presents, worth £50 or more, to over 5000 children across the north-east.

In addition, 253 vulnerable children in the trust’s partner schools received Christmas gifts. This was made possible by the generosity of Dons’ fans who donated more than £16,000 towards the trust’s work in the community in the run-up to the festive period.

AFC’s commercial director and a director of the trust Rob Wicks said: “Yet again, our actions speak louder than words and we have demonstrated that, together, the club, the trust and the Red Army, are an unstoppable force for good in supporting our communities and our fans when they need it most.

"I’m humbled by the feedback we’ve received from fans and incredibly proud of everyone involved whether it was making calls, sorting out gifts for Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas, delivering hampers or raising money.”


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