FOR nearly a decade it’s been a hidden gem at the heart of Celtic FC’s work in the community.

Now, a course tackling loneliness and depression in the East End is back for another year – although this time it’s ready for life in a pandemic.

The Gateway to Health and Opportunity project helps people on unemployment benefits score support for their physical and mental health as a first step back into the working world.

Delivered by staff at the Celtic FC Foundation, the club’s charity wing, the free 10-week course has helped scores of locals, operating continuously since October 2015.

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Donna-Marie Henry, head of outcomes at the Foundation, said: “We are really lucky with the partners we are working with that they recognise we have a lot of people in our communities that are on benefits and maybe not quite ready to make that step straight into a job.

“Although we deliver quite a few employability projects, this is different in the sense that the aim is about getting people back, engaged, back into a routine, and doing something positive to improve their health.

“This project looks at the engagement side of things rather than the job outcomes.

“Yeah, the ultimate aim is to help lift people out of poverty and the best way to do that is to find them a job.

“But this is about going on a journey before that. A lot of it is about fear and mental health issues can be a big thing for people coming onto this project.

“That can be stress and anxiety to suicidal thoughts. So just coming along to this is a massive step.”

Unlike previous years, the course is set to be delivered online due to the restrictions of Covid-19.

And while this isn’t without it’s challenges – many of the participants have limited access to technology – Donna-Marie is sure the Foundation will still be able to make a difference in people’s lives.

“It’s our job to work round that and we are having discussions about resource packs to help people at home,” she said. “As soon as we can move away from the virtual delivery to face-to-face, we will do that.

“We’re even hopeful of being able to do the physical activity soon with some of the recent changes, following the restrictions.”

Donna-Marie, whose team works closely with the likes of Glasgow North East Foodbank and Spirit Aid, is clear that none of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for the club’s supporters, who have raised more than £1 million through the Football for Good Fund since it was launched last year.

“People have got behind us and that’s allowed other people to be able to continue to do a form of delivery,” she said.

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“We will be looking at fuel poverty going forward as some of the feedback we have been getting from our partners has been that this is the next big issue.”
Donna-Marie added: “If anyone thinks we might be able to help them, then just reach out and ask the question.

“It’s getting those discussions and making people know it’s not about football, it’s about them.”

The project is now available for people living in the Clyde Gateway.

To see if you are eligible and for more information, email cfcfoundation@celticfc.co.uk