SMF invests £0.5 million in next phase of Everton in the Community partnership

For a child struggling in school, the challenge is rarely just attendance. It might be poor mental health, family pressures, unmet special educational needs, concerns about safety, or uncertainty about what comes next after school. This is why we have backed Everton in the Community with a further £488,554 of funding, which will support around 2,800 children, young people and their families in the Liverpool City Region through to March 2027.

The investment will enable EitC to further embed its powerful Community Impact Model in North Liverpool, South Sefton, Speke, Garston and Knowsley, creating clearer routes to vital support and helping children and families access help earlier.

The grant will also support the ongoing development of our strategic partnership with Everton in the Community, helping us achieve even greater impact together in the future.

Sue Gregory, Chief Executive of Everton in the Community, said:

“Children and families need support that is connected, consistent and built around real life. This investment allows us to bring our education, wellbeing, family support, employability and SEND programmes together through one Community Impact Model, helping more people access the right support at the right time and creating stronger and positive pathways into the future.”

Paul O’Neill, Deputy CEO at the Steve Morgan Foundation, said:

“Everton in the Community has shown what can happen when trusted local organisations are given the time and stability to do their best work. This funding will help create a more joined-up model of support for children, young people and families, while strengthening our strategic partnership for the years ahead.”

Everton in the Community is the official charity of Everton Football Club, delivering trusted support in communities experiencing persistent social disadvantage for almost 40 years. Since 2019, the Steve Morgan Foundation has invested more than £8 million in EitC, helping young people and families access opportunities that improve educational outcomes, health and wellbeing, build aspirations, and find routes into employment.

Communications and Impact Manager

Shape the voice of one of the UK’s leading family foundations.

The Steve Morgan Foundation is seeking a Comms and Impact Manager – this is a new role.

2 days / 16 hours per week (can be worked flexibly across the week)
£50,000 full-time equivalent, £20,000 actual
Based at Bridgemere House, Preston Brook, Cheshire, WA7 3BD
Permanent

Since 2001, our total investment and impact has passed £500 million and we are now delivering a five-year, £100 million commitment from 2025 to 2030. We invest in communities across Merseyside, North Wales, Cheshire west of the M6 and North Shropshire for the long term. We back organisations tackling the root causes of social disadvantage, not just the symptoms. We also partner with others to fund the global race to cure Type 1 Diabetes.

We want someone in-house who can shape and protect our voice, tell strong stories about our work, and help us communicate the difference that long-term funding can make.

You would shape our voice across everything we publish: website content, LinkedIn, grant announcements, speeches, reports and partner communications. You would also lead our relationship with a retained national communications agency, making sure its campaign and media work meet the standards we expect. You will be comfortable balancing strategic judgment with hands-on writing, and confident challenging agencies, colleagues and partners when something is not good enough.

This exciting new role is deliberately designed around two days a week. It is not a full-time role squeezed into part-time hours. A key part of the job is deciding what stays in-house and what goes to the agency, and we will back your judgment.

You will have:

A track record of strategic communications in the charity, public or philanthropy sector
Experience of owning an organisation’s voice rather than executing someone else’s.
Experience of commissioning and directing an agency and external suppliers, including writing briefs, agreeing scope, and holding delivery to a standard.
A track record of high-quality written communications.
A genuine interest in the communities, causes and issues SMF supports.

The role reports to the Deputy CEO and it is based at Bridgemere House. Read the full job description below:

Communications and Impact Manager – JD

To apply:

Please send a CV and attach a covering letter to jobs@stevemorganfoundation.org.uk by 23:59 on Sunday 6 September 2026. In your covering letter, tell us how you would approach your first three months, and what you would choose not to do. You’re welcome to use AI to help prepare your application but we’re interested in your original thinking. Make sure your covering letter reflects your own judgment, experience and approach.

First interviews are on 10 and 11 September 2026 and second-stage interviews are on 16 and 17 September 2026. If you need reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please tell us when you apply.

We are not using a recruitment agency. If you know someone the role would suit, we would be grateful if you passed it on. We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds and experiences who can bring the skills and judgment this role needs.

Operations Manager

Run the systems behind our five-year, £100 million commitment

The Steve Morgan Foundation has a vacancy for an experience Operations Manager

Full time
£40,000
Based at Bridgemere House, Preston Brook, Cheshire, WA7 3BD
Permanent

Since 2001, our total investment and impact has passed £500 million. We are now delivering a five-year, £100 million commitment from 2025 to 2030. We invest in communities across Merseyside, North Wales, Cheshire west of the M6 and North Shropshire for the long term. We back organisations tackling the root causes of social disadvantage, not just the symptoms. We also partner with others to fund the global race to cure Type 1 Diabetes.

Behind every grant, partnership and investment is the operational work that makes it possible. The Operations Manager leads that work.

You would own the systems, processes and governance behind the Foundation’s activity, including grant administration and payments, finance processes, IT, Board support, statutory filings, supplier contracts and our grants management platform, Plinth.

You would also help us make intelligent use of technology, including finding routine tasks we can automate so the team has more time for work that needs judgment and expertise.

The role is wide and varied – in an organisation of our size, one person leads the whole operational function. The right person will enjoy that breadth and responsibility.

Our Office Manager is leaving at the end of August and responsibilities will be covered across the team until this post is filled. That means there will be systems and processes to understand, improve and strengthen in your first few months.

We are looking for someone who has carried significant operational responsibility in a small organisation and who has built or substantially improved systems rather than simply maintained them.

You do not need an accounting qualification nor experience of Plinth. Strong candidates may come from charities, small businesses, professional services firms or other organisations where broad operational responsibility sits with a small number of people.

Importantly, you will also have an interest in the communities, causes and issues SMF supports.

The role reports to the Chief Executive. Read and download the full job description below:

Operations Manager for SMF – Job Description

To apply:

Please send a CV and attach a covering letter to jobs@stevemorganfoundation.org.uk by 23:59 on Sunday 6 September 2026.

In your covering letter, tell us about an operational improvement you led and what changed as a result. You’re welcome to use AI to help prepare your application. But we’re interested in your thinking, not a tool’s. Make sure your covering letter reflects your own judgement, experience and approach.

First interviews will take place at Bridgemere House on 10 and 11 September 2026. Second-stage interviews are on 16 and 17 September 2026. If you need reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please tell us when you apply.

Steve receives honorary degree from the University of Exeter

Steve Morgan joined new University of Exeter graduates this summer to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

Our Founder and Chairman was selected to be part of the class of 2026 for his outstanding achievements in business leadership and philanthropy, particularly for the impact his support has had in type 1 diabetes research through the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. In her speech Professor Sarah Richardson – a Senior Research Fellow at the university – said that what sets Steve apart is not only the scale of his giving, but the way he gives. His approach is as energetic as his approach to business: hands-on, thoughtful, and deeply personal.

Steve accepted the honorary degree alongside other prominent figures, 6,760 graduates and 15,000 guests.

Steve said:

“I am honoured and deeply grateful to receive this Honorary Degree of Laws from the University of Exeter. To be recognised by such a distinguished institution is a great source of pride. It is also a reflection of the remarkable people I have worked alongside over the years, both in business and in philanthropy. I firmly believe that business, at its best, is a force for good which has enabled me to give back to others less fortunate. The true measure of success lies not just in what we build for ourselves, but in what we create for others.”

In her letter to Steve, Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter wrote:

“Your entrepreneurial vision and commitment to excellence have left a lasting mark on the construction industry and on communities across the country whilst your philanthropic work through the Steve Morgan Foundation has been truly exceptional.

“It would be a privilege for the University of Exeter to celebrate your achievements and contributions through the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.”

Building skills, confidence and opportunity through football

Our Founder and Chairman, Steve Morgan CBE, sent a video message to 50 young people as they graduated from the Wrexham AFC Foundation Young Leaders programme. Drawing on his own path into business, he spoke about the setbacks he faced, the opportunities he took and the lessons he learned along the way. His message was simple: resilience, ambition and hard work create opportunity.

The Young Leaders programme inspires young people, provides personal development opportunities and offers career pathways through the power of football.

We support the programme because it helps young people develop the skills, confidence and experience they need to thrive. Using football as a platform, Young Leaders can build leadership skills, gain coaching qualifications and explore future career pathways.

At the graduation ceremony, Wrexham AFC first-team managers Phil Parkinson and Jenny Sugarman presented awards recognising the group’s contribution to their local communities over the past season. Participants also shared the work they had completed throughout the year, including event plans, session delivery and coaching qualifications.

Speaking about the programme, Parkinson said:

“I think it’s very important, for youngsters, for their own personal development, to go out and show leadership qualities and to develop those social skills of interacting with people of all different ages.”

Earlier in the day, the achievements of the Primary Dragons Captains (another initiative supported by the Steve Morgan Foundation) were also celebrated. The programme supports Year 5 and Year 6 pupils to promote play, inclusion, youth voice and community engagement within their schools.

The Captains came together to mark their achievements before taking part in a football session. They were then joined by Wrexham AFC Women’s player Lili Jones, who presented awards and took part in a Q&A, sharing her experiences of leadership on and off the pitch.