Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has raised over £2,000 selling Exeter City Football Club (ECFC) replica kits from last season.
The money was raised during a special event at ECI’s Jelly children’s charity shop on Fore Street, which also saw Exeter City football players Vince Harper, Vin Sinisalo, Ilmari Niskanen, Manager, Gary Caldwell and joint Managers of ECFC Women, Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley, meet and greet customers.
Ellie Taylor, ECI’s Business Operations Manager, said: “We are over the moon to have exceeded £2,000 in takings for the day – a Jelly record! The queue reached the end of Fore Street, with over 200 people coming to the event. Our thanks go to Exeter City Football Club and the Supporters’ Trust for generously donating last season’s kit for us to sell at discounted prices, and to the players and coaches who gave up their day off to meet customers, sign autographs and pose for selfies. They put a massive smile on the faces of our customers and their children!”
ECI is a partner charity of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, which this year is celebrating an incredible milestone of 20 years of supporter ownership.
Nick Hawker, Chair of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, said: “We are delighted to have helped ECI to have raised so much money through this event. Thanks to everyone who came along. As a supporter-owned club at the heart of our community, we are proud to support one of the city’s longest-running charities which does such amazing work across Exeter.”
ECI will use the money from the football kit sale to help people in Exeter and the surrounding area to improve wellbeing and build skills, support families facing challenges and hardships, and help communities to thrive.