United’s first team players have clubbed together to lend support to St Herbert’s and St Sephen’s Church on Blackwell Road, with a donation which has helped to set up a foodbank fund for one of the city’s most deprived areas.
Club chaplain Alun Jones received the donation on Friday, having spoken to director of football David Holdsworth, and immediately set about putting the money to good use as he made food deliveries around the parish.
“We’ve had a close link-up with Currock for a number of months now,” David explained. “We’ve worked closely with Alun at The Rock, the youth community project in that area, and we wanted to know if there was another way in which we could help through what is a very strange period.
“Alun spoke again about the fact that there are some families who will be struggling in what is a deprived area anyway, and we felt the foodbank idea was fantastic, and something we could quickly support.
“The players reacted immediately and I know Alun appreciated that very much, particularly when he was able to get around Currock to deliver some much needed groceries and essentials to some very grateful people.”
“I can’t thank the players enough,” Alun said. “Under the direction of David they’ve pulled this fund together themselves, and I will take this opportunity to say thank you on behalf of all of the people who received a package over the course of the last few days.
“This once again reinforces the link we have been building up between Currock and Carlisle United Football Club, and we all know how important this type of community work is for the club. It shows that they really do care about the people they represent, particularly when times are tough.
“What I can say is that the people I have spoken to are showing resilience, and that we will get through this. However, in communities like this, where there is high unemployment and other social issues, it shouldn’t mean that people should have to go without.
“That’s why gestures like this from the players at Carlisle United are so important and, once again, we thank them all for what they have done.”
