Celtic FC Foundation pledges £150k support for those struggling amid coronavirus crisis

Club announce support measures on their website as country-wide lockdown ramps up

Celtic have announced that £150,000 will be made available to the most vulnerable people in the community affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

The funds have been made available by the Celtic FC Foundation, which is supported by the Ladbrokes Premiership champions.

They will look to assistant individuals, families, pensioners and frontline NHS staff as Britain continues to face an uncertain future as the deadly virus continues to spread.

Celtic Park will host food-drives aimed at feeding 250 people per week.

Part of this assistance will include feeding 250 people per week at Celtic Park, while deliveries to food banks and funding for charity partners will be ramped up.

This news came just after it was announced the UK Government had decided to close pubs, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, gyms, theatres, cinemas and schools.

A statement on Celtic's website read: "To honour our Club’s founding principles and the existing aims of Celtic FC Foundation, we are proud to announce support measures during the current coronavirus crisis for the most vulnerable in our community through the Football for Good Fund.

"An initial £150,000 will be available for those who need it most. Monies have been allocated from Celtic FC Foundation, supported by Celtic Football Club.

"These are extraordinary times for everyone. The fear, uncertainty, upheaval and disruption to everyday life through the COVID-19 outbreak, is like nothing we have experienced before. Quite rightly, our priority is keeping our loved ones and families safe. Health and the financial burdens are in the forefront of all of our thoughts.

"Primarily, we are looking to provide assistance to vulnerable families, pensioners, individuals who have been affected financially by the crisis, the homeless and frontline NHS staff who are going above and beyond to protect each and every one of us.

"Starting from this coming midweek, we will:

- Feed around 250 people, including NHS frontline staff, at Celtic Park over three sittings, every week day (within the parameters of Government guidance around social distancing)

- Grow delivery to reach the most vulnerable and isolated through the local foodbank network.

- Provide funding to a host of our charity partners to urgently provide food to the most vulnerable in our community

"With self-isolation and social distancing currently being essential for certain groups such as elderly people and those with underlying health issues, and recommended for everyone else, we will also be making a concerted effort to reach out by telephone to our existing participants and new client groups that find themselves alone."

Chief executive Peter Lawwell added: "Our club was born to bring comfort to the most vulnerable on our doorstep and we strive to maintain that charitable principle today, through the work of Celtic FC Foundation.

“The current climate we face is both alien and daunting and, as a family, we must do everything in our power to provide assistance and comfort to those who need it most.

“The Celtic support have continually epitomised the essence of our club in their charitable actions and I hope that this Fund will provide a focus for a concerted team effort to provide a lifeline to so many.”