Port Vale FC receives community award during ceremony at House of Commons

The Football League has announced the winners of this year’s community awards at a ceremony hosted at the House of Commons, with Port Vale winning the League One category.

The Valiants’ community work has received numerous accolades under the ownership of Carol and Kevin Shanahan with the club being named the community club of the year in 2021 after providing over 300,000 meals during the pandemic.

This year, the Vale have been awarded for their efforts with the Community cupboard project. The EFL website confirmed that the Valiants were the winners of the EFL Community Project of the Season for League One commenting:

In League One, Port Vale is recognised for the Club’s Community Cupboard and Lounge initiative, which has supported over 6,000 people in the last 12 months with cost-of-living challenges.

A press release on the Port Vale website adds:

The Community Lounge and Cupboard has supported 6,000 visits during the last 12 months of the cost of living crisis. The Foundation provides access to advice and support in areas such as housing, benefits, mental health and employment and aims to be inclusive, compassionate, and practical.

The project also works to reduce isolation, reduce reliance on statutory services and provide a non-threatening, non-clinical environment in which people can connect and access services they need.

Head of Community Will Turner said “Really, really proud to be recognised for this award in League One. The Community Lounge and Cupboard is one of the many projects the Foundation run across all different aspects of the Community”.