The Tigers’ work in the community is crucially important, especially at this time of year
Hull City may be enjoying a fine season on the pitch under Sergej Jakirovic with the Tigers flying high in the race for a play-off place in the Championship, but off it, the club continue to make a difference in the community.
Whether that be its events, where fans can bowl and play darts with the players, take their heroes on in a game of FC 26, or first-team players making their annual pilgrimage to the Hull Royal Infirmary’s children’s ward, City‘s work often goes unnoticed by many.
The power of the club is felt throughout the year through its charitable arm in the Tigers Trust, and never is that more apparent than at Christmastime.
While a special time for many who get to spend it with their family and friends, there are others who do struggle at this time of year, and the Trust’s work becomes even more crucial with events like the club’s foodbank meal, the giving tree and other initiatives to help those most in need.
“This time of year, Christmas, everybody coming together, I think us as the trust and the football club, it’s really important that we give back to the local community in any means that we can, whether that’s us being out visible in the local community or doing initiatives, bringing the community together,” Tigers Trust CEO Kayleigh Jackson told Hull Live.
“We supported the club with a food bank meal, so individuals who were highlighted by the food bank, but also participants who attend our provision, which we highlighted as well. We brought them together, the players were there, we were dishing food out, engaging with the participants and their families as well, and just kind of putting smiles on faces, while Santa was there as well, so it’s great.
“It’s absolutely massive, especially at Christmas. When we were in the pandemic, we’d had a response, and we were supporting food banks and taking food parcels to the community, and I think it’s about being the charity of the football club, it’s really important that we are front-facing in the community and supporting those that are in need.”
The Trust are financially separate from the football club, and their crucial work in areas of East Yorkshire relies heavily on funding from the Premier League, EFL and other sources, as Kayleigh explains.
“Just like any other charity, we sit and write funding bids, be at the laptop. It’s really important for club community organisations like ourselves to be out in the community and supporting those who are most in need.
A lot of the families we work with, we know that parents and guardians struggle to put meals on tables. We know that people are getting involved in alternative sources of making money, which is obviously not what we want, and I think that’s where we play a really big part in engaging people positively.
Some fans may have seen the video on social media with Oli McBurnie, Matt Crooks and John Lundstram helping out in the community, and having that player engagement is crucial.
“Oh God, massively, the badge itself is a massive draw to people that we engage with, but then having the players there as well, it’s absolutely fantastic, players giving up their time, supporting us, supporting the club when they’re delivering stuff as well,” she continued.
“The Giving Tree is also a great initiative. If people are wanting to give to that, that can be done by them donating presents either at Tiger Leisure or the Tigers Trust Arena, and then they’ll be redistributed in the community, whether that’s through the work that we do in schools, primary, secondary, or the work that we do through our youth and community provision.
“If you are fortunate and in a position to give back this Christmas, if they’re able to drop any presents off or even if they want to give their time and support any community initiatives through volunteering. At Christmas, it’s massively important because we know that there are people who go without having presents underneath the tree, and food on the table.”
You can find out more about the Tigers Trust and how to help them this Christmas here
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