Recently, My Club, My Shirt paid a visit to St Herbert’s Church Hall in Currock to meet some of the homeless supporters of Carlisle United along with the Rev Alun Jones and some of the support staff at the ‘Community Chef Project’.
The project began in 2020, when Alun Jones, Reverend at St Herbert’s Church and Carlisle United Chaplain, combined forces with chef Michael Cullen to create meals for the homeless and vulnerable people of the city.
Both had been doing this for many years before the collaboration, but the combination of Michael’s skills and Alun’s Church Hall made for the perfect match.
Breakfast and dinners are served six days per week, including a Sunday dinner, and are free to the homeless and available at the small price of £10 per week for the vulnerable.
The project has its own allotments, which help to supply the kitchen and a willing band of seven volunteers to help with all aspects of the initiative.
The plight of homeless people has become even more precarious since the Covid-19 pandemic swept the country.
The Community Chef Project also provides people with tents and clothing to help them stay warm and dry as they sleep outside, especially during the winter months.
The My Club, My Shirt project is highlighting the diversity amongst the Carlisle United supporter base and the homeless community in the city are an important part of that fanbase.
Whether they have fallen on hard times, lost jobs, or are fighting addiction, everyone deserves community support to get back on their feet, to get a job, a place to live and to access all the health and social care services they are entitled to.
Carlisle United and the Carlisle United Supporter Groups (CUSG), will be inviting several of the community to a home game in the coming weeks to build those relationships with the community and do our part to help people get back on their feet again.
More details about the Community Chef Project can be found HERE.
To view more information on the My Club, My Shirt project, click HERE.
Club Chaplain and St Herbert’s Reverend Alun Jones said: "The MCMS outreach programme is fantastic for helping those who feel marginalised know they are valued, and that they are indeed part of our football family at CUFC."
Carlisle United chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: "The My Club, My Shirt initiative champions the diversity of supporters in our communities.
"It’s a way to build and support local initiatives to improve engagement with all supporters and the wider community. The work at St Herbert’s with the homeless and vulnerable people of the city really makes a difference and we are proud to help that and proud to have them take part in MCMS."
CUSG EDI Officer, Nigel Davidson said: "This is a great opportunity for the football club to build relations with the communities within the city, to highlight causes and be able to work with community and faith groups to make life better for the people of the city."
