Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) has been spreading festive cheer to schools and community groups across the North-East as Christmas comes early for some lucky youngsters.

With the support of Aberdeen Football Club and EIS Waste, AFCCT has been embarking on its ‘Kit For Christmas’ campaign this week, delivering unused football kit, including socks, shorts and jackets, to schools and community organisations, including St Machar Academy and Middlefield Community Project.

Having sorted through almost 2,000 individual items of AFC-branded kit, staff from both AFCCT and EIS Waste kick started the festive deliveries with drop offs to delighted children and young people.

Players from the Dons’ men’s and women’s teams then made a special visit to the Middlefield Community Project to hand over kit to young people from the Trust’s Extra Time and Cashback KickAbout projects.

These sessions support both primary and secondary school–aged pupils by encouraging participation in extra-curricular activities within their local community. As well as its Youth work, AFCCT also runs a monthly social history session at Middlefield Hub for adults.

“Kit For Christmas is our opportunity to spread a little bit of festive cheer in the communities we work and support throughout the year”, said AFCCT chief executive, Peter Davidson.

“With the excess kit provided by Aberdeen FC, and delivery vehicles supplied by our friends at EIS Waste, this is a great example of collaboration at this time of year. It has been fantastic to see and hear the delight of the young people who have benefited from the deliveries”

Captain Graeme Shinnie spent time with the lucky youngsters and was delighted to play his part in spreading the festive joy.

He said: “It’s great to see everyone coming together to support the Trust with this campaign, especially at Christmas, which can be a challenging time for some.

“The reaction from the kids when we handed over the kit was fantastic to see. I know they participate in the free football sessions the Trust hosts here at Middlefield, so now they’ll look the part in their Dons kits while they are training.”

In the run up to Christmas, the Trust has a busy period of festive events, including the annual Festive Friends lunch for 120 programme participants, and the festive themed Pittodrie Community Hub meal, which will include the distribution of vouchers and hampers.

Learn more at afccommunitytrust.org.