Christmas can be a hard and sometimes lonely time for care leavers, which is why every year The Arsenal Hub opens its doors to care-experienced young people on Christmas Day.
Name of project: Christmas Day at The Arsenal Hub
Number of years: Since 2017
Number of attendees: 40
Project partners: Premier League, Professional Footballers Association, Islington Council
On Christmas Day Arsenal in the Community hosted the annual Christmas Dinner for care-experienced young people with Islington Council.
The event, now in its eighth year, welcomed 40 guests to The Arsenal Hub for an afternoon of football, video games and a hot Christmas meal. Those who attended were also given a hamper from our long-time friends at His Church as well as Christmas gifts generously donated by members of the Arsenal family. The event is a highlight of our calendar, which last year saw Lotte Wubben-Moy attend to spend time with the young people (above).
Les Rowe, Islington Council Education, Employment and Training Advisor, has been to every event since they started.
“Another year, another dinner,” said Les, father of former Gunner Emile Smith Rowe, who has also attended The Hub on Christmas Day in previous years. “I am so pleased to be working in partnership with Arsenal in the Community to facilitate this annual event. Christmas Day dinner gives care-experienced young people and their children a safe place to share each other’s company, eat and enjoy some fun activities.”
The event builds on year-round programmes that Arsenal in the Community deliver with Islington Council and which offer support to care-experienced young people. Our work is funded through the Premier League and Professional Footballers Association Community Fund, and focuses on support for children in education as well as employment support for care leavers looking to progress into employment.
Arsenal in the Community have been offering opportunities for care-experienced young people for 13 years. We are proud to invite some of our guests who enjoyed Christmas Day with us to the game today.
For more information email Jack Ferguson at jferguson@arsenal.co.uk.
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