Former Manchester United stars Gary Neville and Nicky Butt hand out Christmas gifts and hampers to Clarion residents in Salford

On Wednesday [22 December], two of the founders of Foundation 92, the official charity partner of Salford City Football Club, visited Clarion residents in Salford to distribute Christmas gifts and hampers. 

Gary Neville and Nicky Butt took time out of their busy schedules to spread some Christmas cheer in Salford, where Clarion owns and manages hundreds of homes.

Gary and Nicky set up Foundation 92 alongside Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes, who were all part of the Class of ’92: a name given to the group because it was the year that the majority of them moved from the youth team into the Manchester United first team. They went on to become Manchester United’s ‘golden generation’ of players, winning multiple titles including the famous treble in 1999.

Improving the lives of young people

Foundation 92 has worked with Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, since its launch in January 2020, helping young residents improve their lives through sport.

When the pandemic hit, the organisation shifted its focus and began offering a wider range of community services, including a telephone befriending service to help people stay connected and the delivery of essential packs, providing people with ingredients to cook healthy meals, as well as toiletries and activity packs to enable them to keep active.

Making a positive difference

Matt Parsonage, Head of Communities for Clarion Futures, said:

“Working with organisations who share our values is hugely important to us at Clarion, and our partnership with Foundation 92 is a perfect example of that. We’re grateful for the support they’ve provided to Clarion residents and communities in Salford, particularly during the pandemic, and it’s great to see some of the Class of ‘92 spreading Christmas cheer and making memories for local people.”

Head of Foundation 92, Tom Hutton, said:

“Foundation 92 is proud to work with Clarion Futures and multiple partners across the city to provide youth work, mentoring, employability and family support programmes.”

Nicky Butt, one of the founders of Foundation 92, said:

“Foundation 92 is something that each founder is incredibly proud of. The fact that the charity is able to reach out to so many individuals, both in Salford and in Greater Manchester, enables the charity to really make a positive difference in often challenging times."

“I was so pleased to see so many people with smiling faces yesterday, and to meet so many Salford residents spreading Christmas cheer after a tough 12 months."

“Speaking to people it was obvious the difference that the charity is making and I look forward to following the developments of Foundation 92 over the next 12 months.”