The club has nominated our home game against Gateshead on 28^th December as our Shelter #NoHomeKit day.

In support of the Shelter charity, our players will not be wearing their usual home kit, and instead will be wearing one of our away kits against Gateshead at Blackwell Meadows. Many other clubs are supporting the campaign – indeed when we play Spennymoor at the Brewery Field on Boxing Day, the home side will be wearing their away kit.

So if you’re coming to the Gateshead game, then why not support Shelter by wearing one of our away kits?

WHY NOW? Homelessness has risen dramatically over the last decade. The pandemic has shown us the importance of having a safe home like never before - yet more than 180,000 households have been made homeless since March 2020. With a tough winter ahead even more people could lose their homes. Shelter’s frontline services are working harder than ever to help people find and keep a home this Christmas, but we can’t do it alone.

WHY FOOTBALL? Whether watching from the terraces or gathered round the living room TV, football understands what home means. Home gives all fans a sense of identity, belonging and, above all, community. The players on the pitch may change, but the feelings of home are what keep us coming back to football week after week, season after season. Shelter believes home means everything too. Access to a safe and secure home is what gives us all the foundation for a happy life. But for too many people, this basic human need is denied or under threat. Football’s position in society makes it the perfect ally in fighting for the thousands of people without anywhere to call home today.

You can donate to Shelter through its website here: https://www.shelter.org.uk/

or by text message. Text ‘HOME’ to 70455 to donate £5*.  

Think of it like non-uniform day at school: you wear something to show your support and donate a few pounds to the cause.

*Texts cost your standard network rate + £5, and Shelter receive 100% of your donation

DFC also urges fans to donate to local foodbanks, in particular King's on 01325 469884 in Prospect Place, Darlington.