A number of councillors and staff from Preston City Council teamed up with the Preston North End Community Education Trust (PNECET) to deliver Festive Hampers to those most in need over the festive season.

The Trust set-up the initiative to support the elderly and vulnerable and received donations from the general public, the club and members of the first team squad to fund the items within and delivery of the Festive Hampers.

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Hampers reached people from across Preston, thanks to deliveries being made from PNECET staff, PC Paul Elliott, and councillors and staff members from Preston City Council.

Among those was Councillor Nweeda Khan, a representative of the Plungington ward of Preston, she said: “We’ve had a longstanding relationship as Preston City Council on various projects with Preston North End.

“Due to the pandemic, there’s been a rise in the need for various types of support for families in the community. This partnership is very, very important indeed.

“Having these Hampers at this time, at Christmas, is very important and I think it’s been really accepted and valuable to the community, especially those that are really affected.

Read more: Food parcels and face masks to be delivered to those struggling across Preston 

“The areas we are targeting or we are working with to support those families where the Hampers are going, we’ve worked with the schools to identify particular families in need and this is where those hampers will go.

“It is those families in greatest need and some of those won’t come forward. It’s also about their own dignity, and we accept that. But us going out to them and giving these Hampers will really be a great contribution.”

Community Engagement Officer for the council, Vicky Fletcher said: “As a council, we can’t do this on our own, so by working in partnership with Preston North End and the various food providers across the city, it goes back to maximising those opportunities to enhance the offer that we provide the local community.

“It’s really important because it’s about joining up resources and maximising them opportunities to enable families that are most in need access to food, and that’s really important at this time of year because there’s added pressure for families.

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“I’ve been out and about delivering parcels, leaflets which inform families around access to food over the Christmas period, including all the food banks and hubs that are operating throughout Preston.”

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Proud Preston. This, and many stories like it, show how the people of Preston are making a difference. Our Proud Preston section showcases all the charitable, kind, uplifting and great things about our city and the people who live here. #ProudPreston is alive and well, and there’s much to celebrate and be proud of, despite the challenging times we all face.

What do you think about the effort being made by Preston councillors and PENCET? Let us know in the comments below