Volunteers’ Week | Fans Supporting Foodbanks

As part of Volunteers’ Week, which is an annual celebration of the incredible contribution made by millions of people, running from Thursday, 1 June to Wednesday, 7 June, the Club spoke with Charlie Nixon, who represents the Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks.

Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks is a branch of the original Fans Supporting Foodbanks initiative, which was developed in 2015 between Liverpool and Everton supporters who put their rivalries aside to reiterate the message that ‘hunger does not wear club colours’, and began campaigning for societal change.

The fan-led group has grown considerably since its launch, with the Ipswich branch being fully facilitated and supported by the Club and its Foundation, who continue to assist with the various food collections that are held throughout the season at Portman Road.

“We have big ambitions to grow the group. We don’t see there being a ceiling to what we are doing, and we regularly have other fans asking to also volunteer and have linked up at various points with groups of volunteers from other clubs, which has been incredible,” Charlie told the Club website.

“We are all volunteers who are passionate about this cause. Some of the group have experienced poverty in their lives and want to give back to the community, and help others who are in a difficult situation.

“I have grown up in Ipswich and have seen more and more people struggling in the local area as the years go on, particularly now. There was only so long I could sit back and not do anything. So, as a group, we choose to use our spare time to help ease suffering. We can’t change the world or alleviate poverty, but we can work together to make a positive difference.”

Charlie and the Ipswich Fans Supporting Foodbanks team have held three collections at Portman Road throughout the season, with all food donations being taken to Club charity partner, FIND (Families in Need Ipswich), which is a foodbank located in Ipswich and provides support to thousands of people in the area.

“The Club have made us feel so welcome, and we have raised over £5,000 since January. It’s a real testament to what we can do, as a fanbase, when we all pull in the same direction. We believe in working together and building relationships with supporters and the wider community to create systematic change within the towns and cities which we live in.”

The group will be continuing to collect food donations from supporters outside Portman Road into next season, with details being published as to where the group will be located, should supporters wish to donate or speak to Charlie and the group.

Supporters wishing to find out more about Ipswich Fans Supporting Foodbanks can also find them on Twitter here.