News

By once again joining the SPFL Trust’s Festive Friends programme, the Foundation has helped make the Christmas season brighter for senior members of the local community, offering support, kindness and a little festive cheer.

Foundation staff and volunteers welcomed participants to Ibrox today to enjoy a hot three-course Christmas lunch with a programme of entertainment. Ex-Rangers players Gordon Durie and Marvin Andrews also joined in the festive fun and had a chat and danced with guests.

This year, members of the local community from Wheatley Care Housing Association, The Preshal Trust, Riverside Hall Govan, Weekday Wow Factor & the Foundations’ Football Memories community programme all came together at the stadium.

All attendees were given the opportunity to take home a free carbon monoxide alarm to help keep their homes safe all year round.

SPFL associated community trusts and clubs work with local partners across Scotland to identify older people who may be feeling lonely or isolated with the programme expected to support thousands of people this year.

Gordon Durie said:

“The lunch has just been fantastic from start to finish. When you see the faces of all the people here this afternoon it brings a smile to our faces as well.”

“It’s great to see just how happy a wee lunch at Ibrox can make people and bring a bit of festive cheer at this time of year.”

Marvin Andrews continued:

“It’s a beautiful experience to be able to sit in Ibrox and have some lunch with all these wonderful people. For people from my generation we were always told, respect your elders and I have so much appreciation for everyone that we had a chat with today.”

Rachael Cosgrove, Charity Executive for the Rangers Charity Foundation, said:

“We’re delighted to once again welcome older members of our community to Ibrox for a festive meal and entertainment through the SPFL Trust’s Festive Friends initiative.

“As a Foundation we are committed to serving our local community. We’re very aware that many people are finding the current cost of living challenging. Being able to offer today’s celebration free of charge, and to see how much our guests enjoyed themselves, has been incredibly rewarding.”

Maureen from the Preshal Trust added:

“The Preshal Trust is a wonderful organisation. We are an open centre for everybody and anybody and we like to think that we’re a very welcoming organisation. We put on a lot of activities for people in the local community like bingo, dancing, arts and crafts also trips for lunch and things like that.

“Events like today for us are very important because socialising at this time of year and being able to feel part of a community can make all the difference.”

For more information on the SPFL Trust Festive Friends programme, visit SPFL Trust | Festive Friends.