Football club opens on Christmas Day to feed 150 people

On Christmas Day, the Port Vale Foundation is making Christmas Dinner for 150 people, having bought gifts for more than 250 people who are vulnerable at Christmas.

More than 15 volunteers are helping out at the Stoke-on-Trent football club on Christmas Day, while others have helped wrap and deliver gifts.

"We see ourselves as Santa's little elves running around in our black and white scarves," Naomi Parton said, who is head of community at the Port Vale FC Foundation.

"It's very humbling and opens your eyes up to the bigger impact we can make."

Ms Parton said the dinner and gifts were intended to relieve the pressure people might be going through at Christmas.

"The entire club is really passionate about the city," she said.

"Individuals in this city might be working two or three jobs but are barely making ends meet, so it might be it's not classed as the most vulnerable people.

"But Christmas adds that pressure and we want to relieve that pressure a little bit by supporting with the Christmas gifts and dinner."

The club is owned by Kevin and Carol Shanahan, while the foundation is run by Mrs Shanahan.

Ms Parton said: "The family cares so much about the community, they care so much about Stoke-on-Trent and that's why we're fortunate enough to be able to do this.

"The whole club is getting their hands dirty to make a difference."

For Christmas Day, Ms Parton said the club wanted to bring energy and make sure people could have games, presents, good food and a laugh.

She added that several people who had come forward for the dinner would be spending Christmas alone if they were not coming to Port Vale.

"It's a privilege to do something like that and give back to the community," she said.

"I've lived and worked in this city my whole life, I grew up here, I was born here - there are struggles in this city and I think it's naive of us not to own up to that.

"But this city is filled with kindness and generosity and passion and positivity and that really shows the most at Christmas.

"People have come out in their hundreds to support us and make sure people have something on Christmas Day. I think that's really special and I think this city is really really special for that."

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.