Football is set to help put food on the table

A DERBY charity is set to to tackle food insecurity by hosting a charity football match.

Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4TA) supports people in Derby who are experiencing food insecurity, through food provision, signposting, education and advice.

For the last financial year, 18,162 food parcels were distributed to 20,122 adults and 17,588 children.

Over the last few months DF4TA has seen a big increase in food parcel requests. At the same time there has been a big drop in donations. The main reason for this is due to the rising cost of living.

DF4TA, in partnership with Community Action Derby and Everyone Active, aims to raise essential funds by hosting a charity football match called Footy 4 Thought on Saturday, August 6.

The event at Moorways Sports Village begins at 12noon when gates open, followed by entertainment from 12.20pm. There will also be food trucks and information stalls.

The match will kick off at 1pm, with DF4TA going up against fellow charity, Community Action Derby (CAD) and will include adult, children’s and SEN squads.

Adult squads will feature CAD and DF4TA staff members, friends and partners and have an even split of men and women players. Children’s squads will be made up of future stars from local clubs, and SEN squads comprised of players with special educational needs.

The victors will be celebrated at a medal and trophy ceremony at 3pm, whilst the manager of the losing team faces a barage of wet sponges in the stocks at 3.30pm.

Paul Brookhouse, DF4TA’s senior manager and manager of the DF4TA football team, said: “We are currently facing the worst financial crisis to hit the country since the Second World War. People are already struggling and this October, when the cost of gas and electricity increases substantially again, many people will have difficult choices to make in how they cope this winter. DF4TA has set a target of raising £250,000 additional funding to ensure we are able to meet this increasing demand.

“We hope our Footy 4 Thought match will be a great communtity event and lots of fun, as well as raising money to help people in Derby who are experiencing food insecurity. I can’t wait to see my rival manager’s head in the stocks with sponges thrown at it!”

Tickets are £2.50 for adults, £1 for children and available now from www.communityactionderby.org. uk, or pay at the gate on the day.