Each month, Manchester City’s Charity, City in the Community (CITC), is spotlighting its work and programmes through the voices and stories of its participants across Manchester.
This month, CITC sat down with Jay, a Military Veterans participant who has been a part of the programme for the past seven years.
In the interview, Jay discusses how his time at CITC has supported him both physically and mentally, as well as the benefits of being surrounded by people from similar backgrounds:
“It’s impacted my life massively,” said Jay.
“I’ve got friends now that I’ll have for the rest of my life.
“When you leave the forces, you don’t have that camaraderie.
“So having them to lean on and talk to is just fantastic, I couldn’t ask for a better group of people.”
The Military Veterans programme aims to help armed forces personnel stay active during and after the transition to civilian life.
Sitting under the CITC’s Healthy People pillar, the programme provides a safe space for ex-military personnel.
It allows them to engage with each other and enjoy the social aspects which team sports give, whilst maintaining regular physical exercise.
During the 2024/2025 season, the programme worked with 60 unique participants, giving each of them an average of 14 contact hours.
For more information, go to: mancity.com/vets
The new ‘Christmas Together’ campaign creates an opportunity for fans to team up with the Club to support ‘City Onside’. For every purchase a fan makes from a range of selected retail items, the Club will donate £5 to its charity*.
This year’s Christmas retail shop is open now, in store and online, featuring new festive gifts for 2025.
Items which include a £5 donation to City in the Community through the ‘Christmas Together’ campaign are:
• Adult Christmas Jumper (Novelty and Fair Isle)
• Kids Christmas Jumper
• Wolf Plush
• Elf Plush
• Teddy Plush
ENTER THE CITC PRIZE DRAW
Manchester City is also matching any donations* made to the charity through the ‘City in the Community Prize Draw’, meaning fans can double their chances to win amazing prizes.
Entries start at £5 per ticket; supporters can enter on a one-off basis, or they can sign up to a direct debit, meaning they enter the monthly draw automatically.
To take part in the prize draw, or to find out more, visit: www.mancity.com/citcprizedraw
For more information about ‘Christmas Together’ visit www.mancity.com/ChristmasTogether
City in the Community empowers healthier lives with city youth through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/citc or follow @citcmancity on social media.
* MCFC will donate £5 for each product** sold and will match donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) during the period of 04 November 2025 to 31 December 2025 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total. The first £150,000 raised will support City in the Community’s ‘City Onside’ programme, with any additional fundraising helping to sustain the charity’s broader purpose of empowering healthier lives with city youth through football.