Swansea City AFC Foundation donate over 250 warm layers to local charities thanks to 'Give a Jack a Jacket' campaign
Swansea City AFC Foundation has donated over 250 items of warm clothing to several charities across Swansea and the wider region thanks to the 'Give a Jack a Jacket' campaign.
With help from the Premier League Fans’ Fund project, the Swans Foundation this year relaunched the 'Give a Jack a Jacket' initiative to help keep those in need warm this winter.
The campaign relied upon the generosity of the Jack Army and the local community to donate coats and jackets, which have since been distributed to a number of outlets across our region.
A total of 10 charity organisations got involved in the campaign: Ethnic Youth Support Team Swansea, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Matthew’s House, Access Point, Swansea Veterans Hub, St Mary’s Church, Swansea MAD, Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, East Side Youth Club and The Wallich.
“The 'Give a Jack a Jacket' campaign has gone really well,” said Lloyd Thomas, inclusion manager at Swansea City AFC Foundation.
“It’s fantastic to reach out to different organisations within Swansea and see how we can support.
“For us to build our network, but also be able to signpost people who might need support in any of the areas across our provision, is really impactful.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported this important cause. From delivering the jackets first-hand, I’ve seen the impact that it’s having, which is exactly why campaigns like this are so important.”
Having worked closely with those in need of warm layers this winter, quality assurance manager at Swansea MAD, Fikayo Ilori, explained why they were keen to get involved in the 'Give a Jack a Jacket' campaign.
“Swansea MAD is a youth and community charity,” said Ilori.
“We’re also a community anchor so we just try to support the community in any way that they need.
“Judging from the weather and the season that we’re in, it’s going to get cold.
"We work with a number of people who are homeless or moving homes, so staying warm is definitely a need at this time. It’s been great to work with the Foundation for this campaign.”
Lyndsey Hodgkins, a senior support worker at Access Point, was delighted to be able to distribute warm clothing to the people they help on a daily basis.
“At Access Point, which is part of Goleudy, we deal mainly with homeless people who are on the streets, sofa surfing or in hostels, but we also deal with trying to prevent homelessness,” said Hodgkins.
“We rely on donations from the public, so now being able to provide clients with a warm, dry coat is amazing. They can come in and use the laundry and shower facilities here, so they can go away feeling better and now with a dry, warm coat. That’s fantastic.”
The Swansea Council for Voluntary Service run a ‘Chai and Chat’ group to help people new to Swansea find services which can help with essential day-to-day activities.
“The Chai and Chat group has been going on for the last three years, but the sessions in the Swansea Waterfront Museum have been running for a year,” said Hannah Sabatia, outreach programme development officer at SCVS.
“It’s a great space to invite new people to, and link them with services around the city. A lot of the people who come to see us generally have very low income, so to be involved with this Premier League Fans’ Fund project is supporting us massively.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Swans Foundation and everyone who donated to the 'Give a Jack a Jacket' campaign. We’re very grateful to have been part of this project.”