Everton in the Community

Everton in the Community
Name	Everton in the Community
Formation	1988
Type	Charity / Community Organisation
Headquarters	Liverpool
Region served	Merseyside
Leader title	Chief Executive
Leader name	Paul Tait
Parent organisation	Everton F.C.

Everton in the Community is the charitable foundation associated with Everton F.C. delivering outreach across Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral and wider Merseyside. Founded in 1988 during the era of Howard Kendall and linked to initiatives in British football reforms, the organisation has developed partnerships with institutions such as NHS England, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Liverpool and public bodies including Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police. It operates within a landscape shared by rival club charities such as Manchester United Foundation, Arsenal Foundation, Chelsea Foundation and Manchester City Football Club community programmes.

History

The organisation was created in the late 1980s amid broader reforms following incidents like the Hillsborough disaster and legislation influenced by the Taylor Report, aligning club-led outreach with statutory services provided by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Sport England and local authorities such as Sefton Council. Early work drew on models from charities connected to Liverpool F.C. and community teams from Burnley F.C. and Nottingham Forest F.C., expanding through the 1990s under figures linked to Bill Kenwright and contemporaneous managers including Walter Smith and David Moyes. In the 2000s the charity broadened programme delivery with support from funders such as The National Lottery Community Fund, Sport Relief and trusts associated with Prince’s Trust, while engaging with policy frameworks promoted by Department of Health and Public Health England.

Programs and Services

Program delivery covers youth development, employability, health promotion and inclusion projects designed with partners like Liverpool Walton Constituency, Citizens Advice, Shelter (charity), Mind (charity) and British Red Cross. Services include targeted interventions for beneficiaries involved with agencies such as HM Prison Service, Youth Offending Team and schools within the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Working alongside national campaigns run by Change4Life, Kick It Out and StreetGames, the organisation runs projects that intersect with initiatives from Department for Work and Pensions, NHS England screening programmes and regional voluntary sector networks like Merseyside CVS.

Education and Training

Education work partners with higher education providers including Liverpool Hope University and vocational bodies such as City of Liverpool College, The Manchester College and Liverpool Community College to offer accredited courses tied to awarding organisations like Pearson (company). Training pathways link to employability schemes run by National Careers Service, apprenticeship frameworks overseen by Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and social inclusion projects funded by Life Chances Fund. The charity runs coaching qualifications aligned with The Football Association coaching badges, delivers classroom-based programmes reflecting curricula from Department for Education and collaborates with initiatives such as UEFA’s HatTrick programme and FIFA Foundation related projects.

Health and Wellbeing

Health initiatives operate in conjunction with NHS Trusts including Aintree University Hospital and community health providers commissioned by Clinical Commissioning Group arrangements, supporting public health objectives promoted by World Health Organization guidance and Public Health England campaigns. Programs address mental health with referrals from Mind (charity), substance misuse support linked to Turning Point (charity), and physical activity promotion in partnership with Sport England and local leisure providers such as Everton Free School and municipal leisure centres managed by Liverpool City Council. The charity has supported targeted interventions for conditions featured by British Heart Foundation and screening initiatives aligned with NHS Health Check.

Community Sport and Participation

Grassroots delivery includes football coaching, disability sport and female participation initiatives developed in coordination with The FA, UK Coaching, Parasport and regional clubs across Merseyside and Cheshire. Events and festivals have been staged alongside organisations such as StreetGames, Premier League community programmes and international fixtures involving clubs like FC Barcelona and federations such as UEFA for community engagement. The charity supports talent pathways connecting to youth academies at Everton Academy, liaising with scouting networks and player welfare frameworks used by professional clubs such as Liverpool F.C. Academy and Tranmere Rovers F.C..

Funding and Partnerships

Funding has come from diversified sources including corporate partners like Jaguar Land Rover, KiwiRail, Tesco, philanthropic bodies such as The National Lottery Community Fund and commercial arrangements with Everton F.C. sponsors, while grant awards have been secured from trusts such as Children in Need and foundations including SportsAid. Strategic collaborations include joint work with public sector bodies such as Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, health commissioners, education providers and international partners involved in programmes funded by the European Social Fund and bilateral philanthropic initiatives. The charity also engages with corporate social responsibility programmes run by multinational sponsors including Nike, Adidas and regional enterprises across Merseyside.

Impact and Recognition

The organisation has received accolades and sector recognition from bodies such as Sport England, UK Active, Charity Commission for England and Wales commendations and awards presented at events involving patrons from The FA and civic leaders including Mayor of Liverpool. Outcome evaluations have been cited in research from institutions like Liverpool John Moores University, University of Liverpool and policy reports influenced by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with case studies featured alongside Good Practice exemplars used by charities including Barnardo's and Barnardo's-affiliated programmes. Its community interventions have contributed to partnerships that mirror collaborations between professional clubs and statutory agencies across UK cities such as Manchester, London, Newcastle upon Tyne and Birmingham.

Category:Charities based in Liverpool Category:Sport in Liverpool