Community

Leeds United on hand to support local charities making a difference

Volunteering initiative launched to help those in the local community.

Victor befriending calls banner.jpg

Leeds United and the Leeds United Foundation have teamed together to show their support for a number of local charities as they continue to help the most vulnerable people in our local community.

As part of a long-term project, staff members from both the club and the club’s official charity will commit hours to a schedule of volunteering to try and assist with the workload at both Holbeck Together and Slung Low as more families continue to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Showing their support for the project, Leeds Untied Chief Executive Angus Kinnear, Director of Football Victor Orta and CEO of the Leeds United Foundation John Mallalieu, were all on hand recently to help kick off the volunteering initiative, taking part in a range of activities.

The club’s CEO signed up to support the weekly walking group and after being paired up with Holbeck Together client and avid Leeds United fan Kevin Bradley, invited him to do a walk around Elland Road.

Kevin, said: “I really enjoyed meeting Angus; it was just a pleasure. It was like a dream come true. I didn't think I'd see that, not in my lifetime, in all the years I have supported them. Angus is a lovely down to earth man. I can't thank Holbeck Together enough.”

Victor was then on hand to spend a morning doing telephone befriending calls, chatting to older residents who are shielding and may feel isolated in current circumstances, getting to know them and generally brightening their day.

Elissa Newman, Chief Officer of Holbeck Together, said: “It was great that Angus invited Kevin to kick off the volunteering with Holbeck Together at Elland Road. It brings to life how such a simple action such as walking and talking can encourage people to step outside, get some fresh air and chat through anything on their mind.

“It was so heartening to see Victor and Angus leading from the front and encouraging their staff to support the Holbeck community – we can’t thank them enough for their support and dedication.

“It makes such a huge difference – and gives the people of Holbeck a great morale boost - when the leading organisations in our city look outwards towards the community during challenging times and help spread some much-needed seasonal cheer. It’s a true representation of Holbeck pulling together.”

Over the winter months, the Leeds United staff will be getting involved with some of the following schemes to help ensure the club is playing an integral part in helping those most vulnerable through what will be an even tougher period of time, such as:

-          Holbeck Together’s weekly walking group.

-          Telephone befriending service, where a staff member from Leeds United will be a friendly voice on the other end of the phone, to make sure Holbeck Together’s clients have someone to chat to if they’re feeling isolated or lonely.

-          Crisis relief, delivering hot meals and winter packs of flasks, hot water bottles, face masks, sanitiser, gloves, hats – and hand-made crotchet blankets.

-          Packing and delivering Christmas goodies for Holbeck Together’s winter hamper project.

- Packing and distributing food packages at the Slung Low base located in Holbeck, using the refrigerated unite kindly donated by Clipper.

To find out more about how Holbeck Together’s community support programme, please visit: www.holbecktogether.org/our-services/communities or for more information on the efforts of the local theatre group, Slung Low, that have been running a foodbank and arranging volunteers throughout COVID-19, please contact [email protected].

If you are interested in joining the Leeds United staff in lending a hand and being part of the community response over the festive period, please contact Matthew on 0113 245 5553.

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