Fans donate £27,000 to Albion in the Community
Generous Brighton & Hove Albion fans donated £27,000 to Albion in the Community before and after Saturday’s win over Everton.
Supporters were asked to bring a £1 donation to the Premier League match and despite some torrential rain immediately before and after the game, nothing could dampen the spirits of the charity’s volunteer bucket collectors as fans dug deep into their pockets to show their support.
The money raised will be used to help Albion in the Community fund its award-winning work throughout Sussex. The total raised will also almost certainly increase further, with the charity soon to auction a selection of the match-worn shirts from the game.
Martin Perry, Albion in the Community’s chair of trustees, was keen to thank Albion fans for their generosity and their compassion.
He said: “To raise £27,000 in just one afternoon is amazing. There were 27,000 home fans in the stadium on Saturday, so that works out as an average of £1 donated per supporter, which is absolutely fantastic.
“This will make a real difference to the people we work with. A recent study has shown that for every £1 we raise the charity delivers £8.84 in social value; that means that the actual impact of Saturday’s fundraising will be very nearly £250,000 in and around the Greater Brighton City Region.”
“Everyone at the charity is so grateful to the club’s supporters and I would personally like to thank them for their continued generosity; the money they have donated really will help Albion in the Community change the lives of the local people who most-need the charity’s support.”
As well as the bucket collection, Albion in the Community also held a silent auction in the hospitality lounges, and a raffle in the stadium’s restaurants. There were also several contactless donation points outside the stadium, which attracted a large number of separate donations. Fans buying tickets to the game online were also asked to make a small donation when booking their tickets.
Mr Perry added: “A 94th minute winning goal and £27,000 raised for Albion in the Community – as far matchdays go we couldn’t really have asked for more.”