Vinny: Why I had to help the homeless
BLUES CAPTAIN URGES CITY TO UNITE TO TACKLE ‘SHAMEFUL’ ISSUE
VINCENT Kompany says City’s move to their new training complex in the city centre helped him realise he had to help tackle our growing homeless crisis.
Until 2014, the Blues players travelled from their homes, many of them in the Cheshire suburbs, to the old training ground at Carrington in Trafford.
But when the new £200m Etihad Campus opened in Eastlands, the Belgian star said he started to experience the reality of Manchester’s widening wealth divide on a daily basis. As an honorary Mancunian – it was something Kompany, 32, says he could not accept.
He married local girl Carla Higgs, a City supporter from Irlam, Salford, in 2011 and they are raising their daughter Sienna here.
In a heartfelt interview with the M.E.N., Kompany said he couldn’t ‘preach’ to her about ‘humbleness, if a few miles down the road there’s people living in the street... and I haven’t tried to help.’
He went on: “We’re very closely linked to each other no matter how much disparity there is in wealth. We live in the same environment, the same area, and if people have the means to help, they should do it.”
The defender’s response was to launch his Tackle4Mcr campaign.
Supported by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Kompany has promised all the proceeds from his testimonial, minus the running costs, will go to Burnham’s Homelessness Fund, with the first windfall providing beds for rough sleepers this winter.
The City captain said he feels the homeless crisis is ‘shameful’ for Manchester, and explained why he believes everyone should take some responsibility for solving the problem: He said: “It’s an issue that I think is noticeable to everyone in Manchester. But there’s a willingness from every person I’ve met, and every person that has tried to get in touch with me about this issue, to do something about it. “I think most people who live in the area have a desire to find a solution. I’ve got the opportunity now to do something good and hopefully substantial. In that sense I’m pleased to be able to do the first steps, and it’s gone well so far.” He added: “We can’t always wait on the government to sort out all issues. I think they set policies, they set the rules, but we all have a duty to help as much as we can. “I could have chosen a number of topics and issues, because we don’t live in a perfect world. But this is the one I felt most compelled, at this moment in time, to put on my shoulders.” Kompany says he can’t stand by and see people not getting a chance. He said: “I’ve been very lucky – I don’t come from a privileged upbringing. For me to do well, in a sense is for me to have a revenge on life as well, for my family, to come from the background that we have. “I’m happy I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved. I’m happy I was allowed Vincent Kompany to be successful. But at the same time, there’s no excuse for people being left behind and we have to provide a platform for these people to at least get themselves back up. And get ahead in life.
“I actually don’t doubt that this is the single most pressing issue for a lot of people in Manchester.
“I feel it because when I announced that I was trying to help fight the issue of homelessness, the amount of support I got was beyond anything I would’ve expected.
“And I’m sure if I’d done something against cancer, or all these other things where solidarity is important, I don’t think I would’ve had the same response.
“So it must be on top of the agenda for a lot of people in Manchester.”
The Blues skipper said there was no specific incident that made him want to help. He said: “I think it’s various things... I think when it gets cold it hits home for everyone.
“Just walking from the car to your front door you’re thinking ‘oh I want to get in.’ And when you’re in you’re thinking ‘I’ve got a warm bed now, I can make myself a cup of tea and enjoy a movie.’ And then the size of your house doesn’t really matter it’s just that comfort of being in a home. And the first thing that crosses your mind of course is... some people don’t have that. As a basic opportunity.
“In this day and age we are all raising our children in actually a well-off part of the world. It’s undeniable – globally, England, the whole of the UK, is well-off. And in this part of the world, for this to still be possible, it’s actually quite shameful.
“But problems happen – and if we have enough solidarity we can perhaps change things for the future.”
He added: “I think people generally have a good heart and the intention to help. But it needs to be tangible for people... I think for me, maybe the fact that the Manchester City training ground moved to the city centre made it more tangible as well. So... we’re very closely linked to each other no matter how much disparity there is in wealth. We live in the same environment the same area and if people have the means to help they should do it.
“It has to be very clear, no one person has the wealth to solve it on his own. That’s a key message here. But if a lot of us make an effort, according to each and everyone’s means, then it’s a different situation.”
How you can do a good turn this Christmas: Pages 18&19