West Dunbartonshire football clubs pledge to help people through the cost of living crisis this Christmas

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Football clubs have come together to help vulnerable people in West Dunbartonshire through the cost of living crisis this winter, from warm hubs to Christmas toy appeals.Former Dumbarton FC star Graeme Ramage has been running a Christmas toy appeal to help families struggling this festive season, as he reflected on what it was like for him growing up among social workers.The ex-pro runs the Graeme Ramage Football Academy, coaching over 130 children a week out of his base at Goalzone in the Vale of Leven Industrial Estate, however, although that base is used to coach the stars of tomorrow, it is also being used to store presents.Graeme said: “I have run the Christmas toy appeal for the past couple of years.

Last year it was for Food for Thought.“One of the kids that come for training has a gran who helps a lot of families through the charity ‘Above and Beyond’, and in September there were well over 300 families that had requested help from them.

It’s over that mark now.”The facility is open every night from 4pm to 10pm, accepting toys and cash donations, with December 12 the last day to donate.He added: It is not as if we are getting hit with a load of rubbish either, there are toys there worth £50 to £60.

The generosity this year is more vital than ever.“It is heartbreaking to see because you just don’t know the extent to which it is going on because they are only one group, and they have those numbers.