Shelter is asking the football community to come together for the Boxing Day round of fixtures by ditching their home shirt, and instead wear an away or third kit, in a powerful act of support and solidarity for people without a home.
In the space of one 90-minute game, 25 households will become homeless. These could be families with young children, a couple whose lives have been thrown upside down by a cancer diagnosis, or a young person forced to sleep on freezing streets.
By ditching your home colours this Boxing Day and donating to Shelter, you'll be helping find safe and secure homes for people whose lives are on the line.
Whether watching from the terraces or gathered around the TV, football understands the importance of home.
Access to a safe and secure home is what gives us all the foundation for a happy life. But for too many people, this basic human need is denied or under threat. Football’s position in society, therefore, makes it the perfect ally in fighting for the thousands of people without anywhere to call home today.
Chris Kamara, pundit and former professional footballer, said: “I got involved in this campaign after hearing some of the harrowing statistics concerning homelessness in this country – such as there being over 400 households made homeless every day. Something needs to change and I'm hoping this campaign can be the start of that.
“So, ditch your home shirt, donate and help Shelter reach its £250,000 target this Boxing Day.”
As well as wearing away shirts today, fans can directly support Shelter’s frontline services by donating £5 to the campaign by texting ‘HOME’ to 70455, or by visiting www.justgiving.com/campaign/NoHomeKit. (texts cost your standard network rate + £5, and Shelter receives 100% of your donation.)