Leicester helping Leicester: The charity work driven by Union FS
This Saturday sees Union FS’s annual foodbank collection before a vital home game against Queen’s Park Rangers. A member of Union FS shares his thoughts on the group’s efforts away from the stands.
Of all the things that have made me proud to be part of Union FS, the group's charity work might just be the one that makes me proudest.
It’s not looking back at amazing tifos, new songs that have embedded themselves firmly in the fanbase's songbook or even fighting and winning for the fanbase on issues like reduced ticket prices for youngsters.
For me, it's bringing the support together every year to help others. Especially those in our community who are most in need of help.
Put simply, it's the idea of Leicester helping Leicester.
Union FS has been around for a decade (so far!) and the idea of running a foodbank was first discussed fairly early on.
Originally, the idea was turned down by the club. We were having none of it. So we put our disappointment at such a reaction to one side and ploughed on with our first, held at the King Power around New Year of the 2017/18 season.
The Bridge was nominated as the chosen recipient of the donations. They do amazing work supporting the homeless community in Leicester.
It’s a crying shame that they have to report statistics like this: demand for their services in 2023 increased 21% on the previous year, while the number of families in Leicester living in temporary accommodation has tripled in the last 18 months.
We didn’t quite know how many donations would come in on that first day, but we were overwhelmed by the amount, to such an extent that it required a few rushed internal messages to get cars with empty boots to the ground ASAP!
Since then, donations have increased every year. This year at the QPR game we will have drop-off points and two large vans on site ready to cart off the donations to The Bridge post-match.
Elsewhere, Union FS continues to run an annual fans' football tournament which raises money for LOROS, another amazing local charity, which I’m sure many Leicester fans will have links to.
The tournament has come quite a long way after originally starting as quite literally jumpers for goalposts on Vicky Park. It's now a four-pitch setup with music, BBQ, and beers on site.
Historically, we have also run a scheme whereby supporters could buy a winter scarf from us, with another scarf then going to a person in need in Leicester. During the pandemic, we collected funds to buy emergency packages for vulnerable people in the city.
Despite our club being no stranger to the shortcomings of ‘modern football’, Leicester supporters need to realise their own power and what they can achieve when working together. The examples above are testament to that, where our fellow fans have rallied with us to help great causes.
We hope to keep fostering that sense of community in order to help those in need, as well as to bring about positive and lasting change for present and future generations of fans on the issues that affect them.
Up The City.
