UEFA treat for Turin children

UEFA has given a group of children from a Turin help organisation the thrill of a lifetime by inviting them to the UEFA Europa League final between Sevilla FC and SL Benfica at the city's Juventus Stadium.

The children, who were accompanied by five adults, are being cared for by the Turin-based Vincentians Services for the Homeless Centre, a non-profit organisation which helps people and families experiencing severe problems and supports people discharged from hospitals, released from prison, or who have no other sources of support.

Since opening in 1982, the Vincentians Services for the Homeless Centre has been helping people who, for various reasons, find themselves without a job and are, in many cases, homeless as well.

The centre's work has changed over the course of time, expanding to tackle new types and causes of poverty. Initially it worked with the homeless, before expanding to assist people discharged from psychiatric hospitals, immigrants, homeless families, and people who have found themselves the victim of poverty as a result of losing their employment.

A number of activities are on the centre's agenda: attentive listening and support; working in conjunction with local public and private organisations; making up and distributing food parcels; distributing clothing, blankets and household goods, personal hygiene products and non-prescription medicines; preparing and supplying parcels for prisoners; visiting and supporting people with psychiatric problems as well as inpatients; supporting families through the "Adopt a Family" programme

"We are committed to continuing our efforts to ensure every single individual who asks for us for assistance receives it," the centre says.