Tickets mean families can have a ball

Livi FC part of match-day pilot

West Lothian families are set to benefit from a new scheme which provides free tickets to SPFL matches.

The Football for All campaign is a pilot partnership between the SPFL Trust, Family Fund and currently eight SPFL football clubs including Livingston FC.

Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. Last year, they provided support to 6,233 families in Scotland.

Through Football for All, the tickets, which work on a firstcome, first-served basis will be available to all families who have received support from Family Fund from January 2019.

SPFL Trust chief executive Nicky Reid commented: “We understand that families supported by Family Fund face enormous financial, emotional and physical challenges.

“Our Football For All project allows a simple gesture to go a long way, removing a barrier that will allow families who are facing significant difficulties the chance to attend games and enjoy a great experience.”

Salena Begley MBE, Scotland partnership development manager at Family Fund, said, “We are very pleased and excited to be working with SPFL Trust and eight SPFL clubs to launch Football for All.

“At Family Fund, we support families all over Scotland who are raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people, who face daily pressures on their time and their finances.

“We hope that this scheme creates some new fans and look forward to hearing some great stories about these families experiencing live football matches.”

We s t L o t h i a n You t h Foundation are looking after the project on the behalf of Livingston Football Club and co- ordinator Andrew Cowan welcomed the news, saying: “We are delighted to be able to support Livingston FC in delivering this fantastic pilot project.

“We hope to encourage families, who perhaps find it difficult to attend matches, to come forward and experience Scottish Premiership football at the Tony Macaroni Arena.”

For more information, or to find out how to apply for free tickets, please visit the Family Fund website: www.familyfund. org. uk/ footballforall or email WLYF at info@wlyf.org.uk or call 01506 417000 and ask for the West Lothian Youth Foundation.