Meet our four partners at Blackpool match.
This season's curtain raiser against Blackpool begins what will hopefully be the start of a new tradition at Colchester United.
Over the past few years, we've worked with numerous charities as our Official Charity Partners to help them with their efforts in our local community.
Players have provided their support and the club has helped to raise much needed funds as well as raise the charities' profiles amongst the club's supporters and stadium users.
Saturday's game against Blackpool represents our first Charity Partners Day, where we have invited representatives of all four charities to attend the match.
They will get to enjoy this afternoon's football, as well as carry out the first ever joint collection at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
The current charity partners – Essex Carers Support, Headway Essex, Little Havens Hospices and the Tom Bowdidge Foundation – are eight months into their partnership with the club and are making the most of the assets provided to them.
Richard Bowdidge, a long time U's fan, from the Tom Bowdidge Foundation, said: "
"As a new charity, the profile and recognition the partnership gives us has been fantastic, whether it is the clubs generosity in donating signed shirts to our events or supporting and endorsing our 1,000 Faces project, the difference it makes to us is huge.
The Tom Bowdidge Foundation was thrilled to be selected by Colchester United to be one of its charity partners.
Ros Luckman, Community Fundraiser for Little Havens Hospice, said: "We've had great fun as charity partners for Colchester United Football Club so far this year. At the partnership launch in January, two of the families we care for were treated to watching the match from an executive box.
The Tom Bowdidge Foundation was thrilled to be selected by Colchester United to be one of its charity partners.
"This will give them and their families the privacy and care that will make their stay in hospital that little bit easier at a time when they are facing immense challenges and need to feel that they are treated as a young person first and a cancer patient second.
"In Colchester Hospital, for example, we are about to fund two teenage rooms where patients can be treated in facilities that are suitable for them.
"The funds that Colchester United are helping us to raise will go directly to funding local projects and will make a real difference to the lives of teenagers and young people with cancer.
"In Colchester Hospital, for example, we are about to fund two teenage rooms where patients can be treated in facilities that are suitable for them.
"The funds that Colchester United are helping us to raise will go directly to funding local projects and will make a real difference to the lives of teenagers and young people with cancer.
"With 10 people in the UK under the age of 25 diagnosed with cancer every single day the money you will be raising for us will help us provide much needed specialist support teenagers and young people with cancer.
"Tom was a keen Colchester United supporter as are many of his friends so it is fitting that we are working with the club he loved and we are looking forward to working with the club going forward. So thank you."
"Tom was a keen Colchester United supporter as are many of his friends so it is fitting that we are working with the club he loved and we are looking forward to working with the club going forward. So thank you."
Ros Luckman, Community Fundraiser for Little Havens Hospice, said: "We've had great fun as charity partners for Colchester United Football Club so far this year. At the partnership launch in January, two of the families we care for were treated to watching the match from an executive box.
"Harry Pearson, six, from Basildon, whose sister Vivien has been cared for at the hospice for the past three years, attended with dad Mark Pearson and auntie Tracey Pearson. Harry’s cousin Cole Kpekawa, on loan to the U’s at that time, was also at the match. Louis Ray Skillicorn-Aston, nine, also attended the launch with mum Elaine and dad Johnny.
"The family from Witham have been supported by Little Havens for the past two years because Louis Ray has a congenital heart defect which has caused him to have six strokes."
Ros continued: "Since the launch we’ve been working closely with the club and other charity partners to make sure we tell the fans all about the charity and the care we provide to local families.
"We also attended the Open Day in July where visitors to our stand were able to design their own football shirt and meet Betsy – our butterfly mascot. Unfortunately on the day Betsy was beaten in the mascot race by Eddie the Eagle – but she still had a great day!
"We're now looking forward to what the rest of the year has to offer and would like to thank the club for all they have done to support Little Havens. Together we're 'Making every day count'."
Headway Essex are currently celebrating their thirtieth year and were visitors to our recent friendly against West Ham, where they held a collection to raise much needed funds.
Jo Hockey, Trusts and Corporate Manager, said: "We have been so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Colchester United as a charity partner this year.
"With our roots firmly planted in Colchester it has given us a great opportunity to engage with our local community and raise awareness of the work that we do for the mostly forgotten individuals and their families who struggle to cope after acquiring a brain injury.
"With our roots firmly planted in Colchester it has given us a great opportunity to engage with our local community and raise awareness of the work that we do for the mostly forgotten individuals and their families who struggle to cope after acquiring a brain injury.
"It made me feel very proud to see the players wearing Headway Essex t-shirts in the warm-up before the Col U vs. West Ham pre-season friendly, last month."
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More information about our charity partners
Our fourth charity partner, Essex Carers Support, will also be in attendance on Saturday as we look to get the season off to a positive start.
Our fourth charity partner, Essex Carers Support, will also be in attendance on Saturday as we look to get the season off to a positive start.