Funding boost for community football club

Droylsden-based Northside FC has received a funding boost thanks to lottery proceeds raised by Manchester Credit Union members.

The community football club is one of the latest beneficiaries of the credit union’s Busy Bee Lottery, which combines the opportunity to support local good causes with a chance of winning a monthly cash prize.

More than £16,000 has been donated to local charities and community groups in the Greater Manchester area via the lottery so far this year.

Northside FC, which provides safe and fun footballing opportunities for young people in North and East Manchester, has received a donation of £1,562.

Run solely by volunteers, the club has been in existence for more than 30 years and currently consists of around 70 junior players.

The Manchester Credit Union donation will be used to help the club maintain its clubhouse and pitches, ensuring it can continue to offer a quality facility for young players and the wider community.

The Busy Bee Lottery enables Manchester Credit Union to further support the communities that it serves. As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial co-operative, the union offers a range of services - from savings accounts, including one dedicated to Christmas, to fair and affordable personal loans with no application fees and no early repayment fees.

Dedicated to helping people in Greater Manchester free themselves from a cycle of costly and stress-inducing debt, Manchester Credit Union operates from three physical branches and serves members in the City of Manchester, Tameside, Bury, Rochdale, Stockport, Trafford, and the High Peak.

Blake Boardman from Northside FC said: “Northside FC wishes to say thanks to Manchester Credit Union and its Busy Bee Lottery scheme for its generous donation. These funds will go a long way to help with the club’s continuously increasing operating costs and will fund a much-needed lawn mower to keep our pitches in a useable condition throughout the season. Importantly, they will also help us to bolster the sense of goodwill and pride that we aim to foster in our local community.”

Mandy Wilcock, chief executive at Manchester Credit Union said: “As well as supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis and helping them to improve their financial futures, we want to do what we can to boost the many excellent community organisations in the Greater Manchester region. We are delighted to be able to support the valuable work of Northside FC. And we’d like to thank our members, whose generosity has made this possible."