Nili spreads Christmas cheer thanks to Falcons Family
The generosity of the Falcons family was passed on by Nili Latu on Wednesday afternoon, when the Tongan international made a delivery of food parcels to the Phoenix Detached Youth Project (DYP) in North Shields.
Falcons fans donated a wide array of items at the European Rugby Challenge Cu fixture against Bordeaux earlier in the month with the amount dropped in now allowing Phoenix to assist a significant number of young people in need this Christmas.
The Phoenix DYP started in February 2004 and works with hundreds of young people every year, making a real difference to the lives of people of all ages throughout the local community.
After unloading the packages made out of the donations received Latu met with members of staff and the local community who they help, giving a demonstration of a Maori Haka before taking part in a traditional English folk dance.
The group went on to share stories, with Latu speaking about the opportunities he has been afforded through professional rugby, before enjoying a curry prepared by one of the young people that the project has helped.
With some of the most vulnerable young people in Meadowell, Percy Main, East Howden and Chriton in crisis this Christmas, project manager Mike Burgess was eager to thank supporters for their donations.
He said: “The Falcons parcels will make an immense difference to the lives of young people and it’s important for us that the Falcons family know the difference that their support makes in the lives of the people who we work with.
“We work in the most deprived area in North Tyneside and have a lot of young parents who are under 25 who come to us as a last resort who we are trying to support over Christmas and this donation is very gratefully received.”
For more information about the Phoenix DYP, visit the [**project’s website.**][1]
[1]: https://www.pdyp.org/
