Arsenal FC launches campaign for Centrepoint

Arsenal Football Club has announced Centrepoint, London’s biggest youth homeless charity, as its nominated charity for the 2010/11 season.

Through the ‘Be A Gooner. Be A Giver.’ campaign, the Gunners aim to raise £500,000 to create a state-of-the-art service in a refurbished building in Soho, to be known as the ‘Arsenal Training Centre.’ The Centre will help homeless young people across London to develop essential life skills to get back on their feet and stay off the streets permanently.

The re-vamped service will provide a welcoming and inspiring place for young homeless people to go to receive support, education and employment training and skills that are essential in helping them to lead healthy lives and reach their potential.

The partnership will be officially launched at Centrepoint’s services in Soho this afternoon where Arsène Wenger and Arsenal players will be shown around the current facilities and meet young people who are currently being assisted and housed by Centrepoint.

Speaking ahead of the launch Arsenal Manager, Arsène Wenger, said: “The Club’s partnership with Centrepoint marks a departure for the Club from helping sick young people to vulnerable, homeless young people who need a helping hand and positive guidance at a difficult time in their life.    

“We look forward to kicking off the ‘Be a Gooner. Be a Giver.’ campaign together today and we ask supporters once again to get behind the Club and continue giving their generous support for the initiative.”

Seyi Obakin, Chief Executive of Centrepoint said:  "We're delighted to partner with Arsenal Football Club as their dedicated Charity of the Season.  With the generous support of the Club and its supporters, we will be able to reach out to more young people and provide improved services to help them fulfil their potential and give them every chance of a brighter future, something that Centrepoint has been committed to for the last 40 years.”

Every day Centrepoint provides accommodation and support for 800 vulnerable homeless young people between 16-25 years-old across London who have experienced domestic abuse, family breakdown, poverty, and increasingly, the harsh reality of knife and gun culture.

Centrepoint services are located across London and range from emergency night shelters, to short stay services, to long-term supported flats, and centres with facilities for learning on site. These services are places which homeless young people can call “home” and Centrepoint provides over 290,000 nights’ accommodation to homeless young people every year.  However, some of the buildings are in drastic need of redevelopment – they need refurbishing, expanding, modernising and a fresh lick of paint.

Arsenal will be raising money for the ‘Be a Gooner. Be a Giver.’ campaign with Centrepoint during the course of the 2010/11 season through a range of initiatives. As well as encouraging fans to donate and take part in events and challenges such as its annual ‘Be a Gunner.  Be a Runner.’ event, the Club will dedicate its Premier League match against Fulham on 4th December and hold its annual end of season fundraising ball in aid of the charity.

Click on the PLAY button above for footage of our dedicated matchday.

The charity will also work closely with Arsenal in the Community on a range of education and mentoring programmes.  A dedicated website has been created so that supporters can follow the partnership at www.beagoonerbeagiver.org.

[Wednesday, August 04, 2010]

Print this page Email to a friend