Leeds United’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Cardiff City on Saturday (1 February 2025) was dedicated to South Leeds-based charity, Holbeck Together, who have been working closely with the club for a number of years as they continue to support some of the most disadvantaged people in the local area.
Ahead of the dedicated fixture, Leeds United club legend Eddie Gray stopped by one of the charity’s wellbeing breakfast events, chatting with staff, volunteers and the people the organisation supports, to hear their stories and more about the charity.
Holbeck Together provide a variety of services and activities to support the community that is just a stone’s throw from the stadium, keeping people of all ages socially and physically active, whilst promoting healthy lifestyles and choices, and offering affordable food to those most in need.
To continue supporting some of the most isolated people in our local area and to continue the incredibly vital work they are doing every day, the organisation relies heavily on donations. Therefore the charity will be hosting a fundraising event around the ground at the weekend, with special guests also presenting in some of the stadium lounges.
Speaking at the recent wellbeing breakfast, Eddie was quick to praise the important work being delivered by the charity:
“It is just about the people,” Gray explained. “That is what life is all about to me. It is great they can come here, meet up and get something to eat. I like coming here. Elland Road is within walking distance, and it is a focal point.
“It is nice to come down and see how they are doing. I think it is a great thing that they do here. They put this on and it is for the community and the people that live local. They can come in here and meet people, talk to them and probably make new friends here, which is good.”
Elissa Newman, Chief Officer at Holbeck Together, added:
“We are based in the heart of Holbeck, in the shadows of Elland Road, and we provide key support where people experience consistent poverty, ill health, loneliness and mental wellbeing troubles.
“As a charity, we endeavour to deliver a busy schedule of community support services and health and wellbeing activities for people, just like the breakfast event we have thrown this morning.
“Holbeck remains one of the most deprived areas in England, and any help we can get from the incredible Leeds United fanbase will go so far in supporting so many people who really need it. Our relationship with the club has a profound impact on the work that we carry out, it is a football club with its heart in the community, whom have an eternal open door for us, and our continued work with the Leeds United Foundation also provides once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for young people living so close to the ground.”
Some of the other events the charity host and deliver, include baby massage groups, parents and tots’ groups, family teatime club, wellbeing café, day trips on their community minibus, chronic illness and pain group sessions, social supermarket for affordable food, charity shop, meals on wheels and bingo afternoons.
More about Holbeck Together can be found here and if you are able to donate, please visit: www.holbecktogether.org/support-us/
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds United
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