The 2022/23 season saw the launch of a new initiative, in collaboration with McDonald’s Welling & Bexleyheath, to help local charities, schools, amateur sports clubs and community projects. It is aimed at engaging these organisations with the club and providing a minimum of 200 free tickets for every home game going forward.

Each organisation will have a unique link to our online ticketing system, Ticketpass, where they can offer the families attending with the children 10% off ticket prices and 10% of all the revenue raised from the ticket sales will be donated back to these organisations for funding.

50% of the card transaction fees on ticket purchases will also be donated to the NSPCC each week, too. This will apply to both men’s and women’s team fixtures.

Welling United are an ‘all-involvement’ club and we will be ensuring that there is an equal measure of all ethnic backgrounds and gender organisations in this initiative to show the local community that sport can be used to form strong relationships from a young age no matter your or your family’s background or preferences.

We have strong links with Sufian Miah, of the Shampan Restaurant chain and his son, Zidan Miah, who recently won the Bangladesh Sports Personality of the Year award.

Additionally we will be introducing a new fan engagement app, Club Core, where the organisations, children and our fans can interact with the club, receive special offers and merchandising.

Phase two is to bring the organisations into a unique support part of the app where children Under 16 can listen to or watch support media files privately on issues such as abuse, addiction, mental health, physical health. There will also be a private link where children can anonymously reach out for their own personal support and guidance.

Community Officer, Paul Whitehead, said: “Today, we see children suffering due to the cost of living rises, mental health recovery from lockdown as well as a huge rise in vaping from a young age. We want to give these children a place to come, free of charge, where collectively they can enjoy themselves, engage with new people and feel supported through sport.”

Organisations who wish for more information or to register to take part please message via our social media channels or contact David Jueno on 07591 391686. Alternatively, you can email paul.whitehead@wellingunited.com.

With special thanks for Ticketpass, Club Core and Emiceson Solutions for providing the the service and platforms to be able us to launch such a project.

Additionally, none of this would have been deliverable without Clare Sadlier and Dervis Kadir along with the members of the Welling United Business Club who are truly amazing with their organisational and financial management skills.

Tickets for Saturday’s game against Hemel Hempstead Town at Park View Road are available to purchase by clicking here.

As part of the Community Initiative, free tickets for U16s are available for the game via the Songwriting Charity, the Rob Hill Foundation and Sustainable Medals.

Please email info@songwritingcharity.org, chris@beatmyaddicitons.com or simon@laserbrand.co.uk to register your child and for more ticket information.