Forest delighted with impactful Home For Christmas campaign

By Nottingham Forest FC

Children’s Christmas Party

The campaign began on Tuesday 10^th December, when we hosted a Christmas Party for Children in the Robin Hood Suite with over 100 children in attendance from Warriors United, Nottingham Children’s Hospital Charity, When You Wish Upon A Star and three local primary schools from under privileged areas who have excelled in our Community Trust initiatives this year: Crabtree Farm Primary School. Carrington Primary School, and Victoria Primary School.

The party was one to remember. The festivities got underway with a disco and dance-off before Santa Claus himself, shocked the party goers with this arrival. Each child had the opportunity to visit Santa in his grotto and receive a Christmas present. After a party food buffet, the children were joined by Nuno and stars from the Nottingham Forest football and netball teams much to the delight of the smiling faces in the room.

The party wasn’t finished there, as the festivities ramped up with a snow machine before Santa and Ola Aina marched the children round the City Ground in a festive conga. The room was full of love and joy embodying the true spirit of Christmas and the ‘Home For Christmas’ campaign.

Food & Multibank Collection

As part of the campaign, we were delighted to partner with Nottingham’s largest independent foodbank, Himmah, based in Radford & Hyson Green.

Driven by Mr Marinakis, the club opted to host a multibank collection which extends beyond a foodbank and helps raise donations for essential non-food items such as toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and washing up liquid. In times of crisis, these are often the first products a family stops buying to make ends meet.

Beginning on Saturday 14^th December before our fixture versus Aston Villa, and running from Monday 16^th to Friday 20^th December, the club was blown away by the generosity of the Forest Family who came together and filled the Fanzone with essential food and non-food items donating a staggering 4259KG of goods that will be distributed to Himmah’s many beneficiaries in time for Christmas offering hope and dignity to thousands within our city.

Our owner, Evangelos Marinakis, will now double the total amount of donations raised meaning Himmah will receive over 8 and a half tonnes of essential items that will have a lifechanging affect on its recipients this festive season and beyond.

The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to everyone who came to the Fanzone and donated – we were truly blown away by the generosity of the Forest Family.

Hospital & Food Bank Visit

On Tuesday 17^th December, our football and netball teams spent the afternoon spreading festive cheer by visiting the Nottingham Children’s Hospital at the Queen’s Medical Centre, whilst another group visited the Multibank Collection and the Himmah Hub in Hyson Green.

The first group arrived at the QMC, led by Nuno Espirito Santo, and handed out presents to children who will be spending Christmas in hospital. There were beaming smiles and presents aplenty as the children and their families were given a moment to forget their problems and spend time with their heroes. This day will last long in the memory for the children, families, players, and hospital staff.

The second group arrived the Fanzone to make a generous and sizeable donation that was gathered by all the players and championed by Neco Williams. After dropping off their donations, they stayed to help sort the items much to the delight of passing by fans who were dropping of items of their own. After leaving the Fanzone, we arrived at the Himmah Hub where the players served meals to over 50 beneficiaries and handed out gifts much to the delight of the children.

Open House Coffee Morning

Yesterday, the campaign finished with an Open House Coffee Morning in The Brian Clough Stand Executive Boxes aimed at tackling social isolation and loneliness this Christmas. There was an abundance of joy in the room as we were joined by club legends John McGovern, Garry Birtles, Ian Storey-Moore, John O’Hare, Julian Bennett, Nigel Jemson, Paul Anderson, and Paul McGregor.

Over 70 fans arrived and there was tea, coffee, and minced pies for all as we exchanged stories of Forest past and present. There were smiles and laughter all around the room; exactly as Christmas should be.