New funding has been awarded to SMF strategic partner, Everton in the Community (EitC), to support young people in Speke-Garston and Knowsley.
The multi-million pound funding will tackle ever-growing issues in these high-need areas including poor mental health, persistent absenteeism and lack of support for those living with neurodiverse conditions through the delivery of the award-winning ‘Steve Morgan Community Impact Model’.
The new funding was officially announced as part of a special event at EitC’s Goodison Campus in Liverpool 4 and saw Steve Morgan join two SMF Ambassadors – Everton stars James Tarkowski and Courtney Brosnan – in observing a variety of Impact Model sessions in action while meeting the young people who have benefitted from the Foundation’s investment.
The Steve Morgan Foundation has been working with the official charity of Everton Football Club through our strategic partnership since 2019, delivering the Impact Model in South Liverpool to protect young people from exploitation and to inspire them to reach their full potential, which has generated £35.6million in social value to date.
The Impact Model is a comprehensive programme that operates through four interconnected themes, offering children and young people tailored support services, educational assistance, community engagement, and pathways to employment. Programmes address mental health, antisocial behaviour, criminal exploitation and educational disengagement, while also providing enriching experiences, improving academic outcomes, and enhancing career prospects.
The last five years has seen the Impact Model positively contribute to wider school and community changes across Speke-Garston, but there is a need for more highly targeted support to address a number of issues which have arisen as a result of the global pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. This includes an increase in poor mental health amongst young people, a surge in the number of students with SEND in mainstream schools, a significant leap in poor behaviour and persistent absenteeism, and a lack of targeted support for pupils living with neurodiverse conditions.
The new funding will enable EitC to build on the impact already achieved in South Liverpool whilst responding to these new challenges, focusing on targeted support across current Speke-Garston schools, extend its nationally recognised Impact Model to new schools in Knowsley and pioneer a community-led ADHD and neurodiversity support programme.
Sue Gregory, Chief Executive Officer at EitC said:
“We are delighted to receive additional multi-million pound funding from our strategic partner, the Steve Morgan Foundation. Since 2019, we have been working together to combat social deprivation and inequalities that often hinder young people from getting the best start in life and our impact in these communities so far speaks for itself.
“Speke-Garston and Knowsley are home to some of the most deprived areas in Liverpool and we’re acutely aware that the aftermath of Coronavirus and the cost-of-living crisis has hit these communities harder than most, leaving many young people at risk and in need of targeted support. We believe that every child deserves the chance to achieve their potential, but sadly we know that this is not always the case due to the systematic barriers they face.
“Thanks to this new funding, we are able to deliver immediate support in Knowsley and expand our offering in Speke-Garston to continue creating change in the communities that need it most by investing in youth and offering vital support to their families. We look forward to seeing the significant value that this strategic partnership will continue to generate three years from now.”
Steve Morgan CBE, added:
“I really love coming down to see the work that Everton in the Community does, it’s fabulous and we are so thrilled to be a part of it. We are delighted to provide our practical support and financial backing for the enhancement of the Steve Morgan Impact Model in Speke-Garston and the expansion into Knowsley.
“I grew up in Garston and I’m aware of the socio-economic challenges that these communities face, so I consider it a privilege to be able to give something back and help thousands of young people across Liverpool City Region through our strategic partnership.
“It’s so rewarding to see the value of the Steve Morgan Impact Model in action, and it was great to be joined by our official ambassadors, James and Courtney. Listening to their backstories and seeing them both engage with the participants here today gives me a great sense of pride and shows how we’re all working together to positively transform the trajectories of so many young people’s lives.”
Read more about the Impact Model and our partnership with EitC here.