A charity helping vulnerable youngsters is celebrating a £25,000 cash windfall following Arsenal’s Community Shield victory.
Friendship Works, which pairs Islington young people having a problematic upbringing with adult mentors, was given the money by the Football Association after the Gunners beat Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley on Sunday.
Both sides were given a grant for competing in the curtain raiser for the new Premier League season, and Arsenal chose to give some of the cash to the charity.
Iain Cassidy, chief executive of Friendship Works, said: “This money will go a long way to allowing us to create brighter childhoods and ultimately improve the life chances of many more children living on our shared doorstep.”
A group of children and mentors from the charity were at the match.
Three of the youngsters carried a flag, celebrating the 100th birthday of former Gunners player Joe Mercer, on to the pitch before the game.
n For more information about the charity, visit friendshipworks.org.uk.
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