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Author: hilary

SMF supports Housing First project to end rough sleeping

The Steve Morgan Foundation has pledged £80,000 to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) to support a new programme of research and advocacy to help end rough sleeping in England. The CSJ’s research will draw on the success of the Housing First schemes in Liverpool and Manchester, putting practical recommendations based on local learning to the government and combined authorities.

About Housing First

Housing First offers a transformative solution to homelessness. Unlike traditional approaches, which often require individuals to prove ‘tenancy-readiness’ before accessing mainstream housing, Housing First provides permanent housing as the starting point without conditions other than an individual’s willingness to maintain a tenancy. It then delivers intensive, person-centered wrap-around support tailored to each individual’s needs.

Three Housing First pilots were launched in 2018 in Liverpool, Manchester and the West Midlands, which have been game changing. Over 1,000 chronically homeless individuals have been supported, with 92% living in long-term accommodation one year after beginning the programme and the rate of crime and anti-social behaviour cut in half, compared to just 30% sustaining their tenancies in conventional schemes.

With the recent publication of rough sleeping stats, which have surged since the pandemic, and the announcement that the Government will invest nearly £1bn in initiatives to turn the tide on homelessness, the Steve Morgan Foundation is getting behind CSJ to launch a high-profile research and advocacy project, building on the success of the Housing First pilots, to provide a blueprint for rolling out the initiative nationally with the aim of ending rough sleeping in England once and for all.

Alongside the financial support, we will share our knowledge and insights into housing as well as provide on-the-ground support and collaboration with relevant charities and stakeholders with the aim of positively influencing government policy to help change lives for good.

Steve Morgan commented:

“I know firsthand the importance of a stable home. This is why I believe that Housing First is the key to tackling persistent rough sleeping. Providing individuals with the security of a permanent home, alongside the support they need, gives them the foundation to rebuild their lives. It’s not just about four walls and a roof, Housing First provides dignity, stability, and a path to a brighter future. I agree with the CSJ that this is an approach we must scale to ensure we tackle rough sleeping for good.”

We look forward to sharing further updates as the project progresses.

Maggie’s North Wales ‘tops out’

Following the excellent progress of the building of the new Maggie’s cancer support centre in North Wales, we were thrilled to celebrate its ‘topping out’ – a traditional ceremony to mark the completion of the highest part of the building.

The Maggie’s centre is being completely commissioned, designed, built and funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation in the grounds of Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire. The milestone was marked by nailing a ceremonial bough to the roof.

Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s said:

“We are delighted our North Wales centre has ‘topped out’, meaning support for people living with cancer in North Wales is a step closer.

“Without the Steve Morgan Foundation’s incredibly generous support in commissioning, designing, building and funding we wouldn’t have been able to bring Maggie’s to North Wales and for that I am so grateful.

“The Steve Morgan Foundation has committed to building three new Maggie’s centres – including the one in North Wales – which is a truly phenomenal act of philanthropy.

“I am greatly looking forward to continuing to work with the Steve Morgan Foundation, and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to open our new centre later this year.

“Maggie’s is there for everyone who needs it, and we are free with no appointment or referral necessary.  We know this makes a huge difference to helping people cope with their diagnosis –  from getting ready for cancer treatment, help with potential side-effects, support after treatment, providing benefits advice or coping with advanced cancer.”

The Steve Morgan Foundation has provided £4 million to build the centre in North Wales and has already commissioned, designed, built and funded Maggie’s, Wirral which officially opened in the grounds of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral in September 2021. In 2024 the centre supported people more than 18,000 times.

A third Maggie’s centre in Liverpool – to be built within the grounds of the New Royal Liverpool Hospital next to the new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool – is also in development thanks to the Steve Morgan Foundation.

SMF Chairman, Steve Morgan, said:

“This is an exciting milestone in the build of the new Maggie’s centre and we are delighted with the progress, which keeps us on track for the planned opening in the Autumn.

“The new centre will ensure the people of North Wales have easy access to the vital cancer support that Maggie’s provides and we are pleased to be able to make that happen. The ethos of the Foundation is to ‘give money away well’ and our partnership with Maggie’s is a prime example of how we can harness our expertise, practical support and commercial experience to maximise the impact of our financial support.

“We are very much looking forward to when Maggie’s North Wales opens its doors and to continuing our partnership with Maggie’s through the development of the centre in Liverpool.”

Glan Clwyd Hospital is managed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and is home of the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre.

Deputy Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Gareth Williams, said:

“This is a really significant day for Maggie’s North Wales, our Health Board and the Steve Morgan Foundation.

“We are delighted to be working with such notable partners on a facility which will complement the charities we already work with – and will no doubt enhance the emotional care, support and wellbeing of cancer patients, their families and friends. Adding the expertise and knowledge Maggie’s brings, for the benefit of our population, is something we should celebrate. Today brings Maggie’s, North Wales a major step closer.

“Of course, this would not be possible without the generosity, resource and experience of the Steve Morgan Foundation. There’s surely no greater philanthropic act than providing a place of safety, support and comfort to those who are often going through their most challenging life experiences.

“I, my fellow Board members and our colleagues across the organisation look forward to the doors opening for everyone later this year.”

Maggie’s has 30 years of experience and expertise providing free cancer support and information in centres across the UK.  Built in the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, the centres are warm and welcoming and are run by expert staff, who help people live well with cancer.   

To find out more about Maggie’s in North Wales and how you can support the centre please visit https://www.maggies.org/our-centres/maggies-north-wales/ .

Photo credit to Liverpool Chinatown Photographic Society.

Multi-million pound funding for Everton in the Community

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.

Full steam ahead for Maggie’s North Wales

The new Maggie’s Centre in North Wales is set to open its doors in the Autumn this year and we’re delighted to report that construction of the site is on track.

The Steve Morgan Foundation has provided £4million to design, commission and build the centre, having already done the same for Maggie’s Wirral which officially opened in the grounds of the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral in September 2021.

The North Wales centre is being built in the grounds of Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire. Having broken ground earlier this year, construction work is making good progress – the steel frame, roof, solar panels, windows and first phase of the external cladding have all been completed. Working closely with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) we have ensured disruption to the hospital has been kept to a minimum.

The new Maggie’s centre will provide free practical, psychological and emotional support for people with cancer, as well as their family and friends, from across the whole region.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Workmen on building site of a new Maggie's centre in North WalesPartly-built Maggie's Centre in North Walessolar panels on the roof of the new Maggie's centre in North Wales

 

Pioneering Cradle to Career initiative offers blueprint for community transformation, study finds

Cradle to Career is being hailed as a potential blueprint for transforming outcomes in left behind communities.

A new evaluation by the University of Manchester has found “much to be celebrated” in the achievements of Cradle to Career North Birkenhead since the launch of the ambitious 20-year programme in 2021.

By bringing together schools, local services, and community organisations under a shared umbrella, the project is achieving measurable improvements in education, family support, and social cohesion, offering valuable insights for other areas facing similar challenges across the UK.

The Cradle to Career initiative encompasses a “considerable range of valuable activities”, according to the report, all focused on North Birkenhead – a two-square-mile area in the Wirral with a population of approximately 10,000 residents.

Many of these activities aim to drive significant changes in how local services operate, placing community priorities and family needs at the heart of decision-making.

The report highlights several notable successes, including the establishment of a new partnership dedicated to supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Additionally, the introduction of a community-based multi-disciplinary team (MDT) model has enabled more coordinated and effective support directly to families.

Researchers state that this work is “changing – or has the potential to change – local systems”.

The evaluation also found that schools and community organisations are working together to improve reading, share best practice, and deliver tailored interventions for families and children. By focusing efforts within a defined area, the initiative has become a testbed for strategies that can be scaled to other communities facing similar challenges.

Researchers noted:

“A strong area-focus has been established, generating new learning about the area and attracting new resources and commitment. New and productive relationships have been developed between organisations who have not previously worked together.”

The report also identifies several ways the programme could be strengthened further to build on these strong foundations.

These include securing sustainable funding, creating a more joined up strategy, clarifying ownership of the project and ensuring the voices of local residents shape the programme’s future at a strategic level.

Meanwhile, housing, mental health, and career guidance are identified as areas ripe for further development.

The report’s lead author, Professor Kirstin Kerr, from the Manchester Institute of Education, stated:

“Overall, there is much to be celebrated. New relationships and ways of working have been developed, and Cradle to Career North Birkenhead has been established as an entity that can attract additional funding and resources.

“The challenge now is how to sustain and build on these developments to date, and address emerging issues.”

Cradle to Career was first launched in North Birkenhead five years ago. The project was instigated and funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation, with support from SHINE and the UBS Optimus Foundation.

It is delivered by Right to Succeed in partnership with Wirral Council and more than 50 local partner organisations.

Since its launch, Right to Succeed impact evaluations have found that Cradle to Career North Birkenhead has significantly improved literacy among children, given families easy access to the support they need, and created more opportunities for local children and young people.

Schools have closed a 15-month reading age gap across all 8-16-year-olds and the uptake of the 30-hour early years offer has significantly increased, with the community going from having the lowest participation rate in the local authority to the highest. Additionally, the number of children facing decisions about entering the care system has drastically decreased, from 7-8 cases per week to just 7-8 cases per year.

“This approach is showing that systemic change is possible when resources are focused, and organisations work together,” said Steff O’Keefe, Programme Director.

“Cradle to Career North Birkenhead is setting an example for what can be achieved in areas facing deep-rooted challenges borne from the loss of its primary industry.

“With its focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact, the initiative offers a potential roadmap for communities across the UK seeking to break cycles of poverty and create lasting opportunities for future generations.”

Following early evidence of promise in the North Birkenhead pilot, this groundbreaking initiative is being tested in other parts of Merseyside and Halton thanks to an investment of £5.25m by Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, plus additional funding from the Steve Morgan Foundation, SHINE, National Lottery Community Fund, Bank of America and A&O Shearman.

Mr Rotheram has called for other parts of the UK to learn from the Cradle to Career model.

Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE, said: “We are delighted to be supporting an independent evaluation of Cradle to Career with our partners in the region. These emerging insights will help ensure the programme can continue to strengthen and grow over the coming years and build on the strong foundations that have been laid.”

Steve Morgan CBE, Chairman of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said:

“As a Foundation, we firmly believe that the ethos of collaborative working is the most effective strategy for delivering positive change and this was the driver which led us to instigate the Cradle to Career programme.

“The impact the initiative has had clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when services join together and we are pleased to be supporting further expansion of the model to enable similar ‘left behind’ communities to change the outcomes for children and young people moving forwards. 

“The Steve Morgan Foundation has committed £4.9million of funding to date to the Cradle to Career programme and we remain a primary catalyst, investor and champion.”

Changes to our grant giving

The Steve Morgan Foundation has paused new grant applications as of Tuesday 25th February.

The trustees have taken this decision to pause new grant applications to enable them to take time to reflect on how we can best continue to support and work in partnership with the people and organisations delivering vital work and projects in our communities. All applications that have been received up to 25th February will still be considered for funding.

The Steve Morgan Foundation remains totally committed to continuing its mission of building partnerships to deliver modern day philanthropy at its best and #ChangingLivesForGood. We will update this page and our approach to grant applications when we have more information to share.

 

 

The Steve Morgan Foundation welcomes new Strategic Partner, OnSide

The Steve Morgan Foundation is proud to announce a significant funding commitment to a newly established strategic partnership with OnSide, a national youth charity dedicated to empowering young people across the UK. This funding will support OnSide’s mission to provide practical support and opportunities for young people to discover their passions and purpose. 

The Foundation has allocated £300,000 a year between three of OnSide’s regional Youth Zones, The Hive in Wirral, Warrington Youth Zone, and The Way in Wolverhampton, with an additional £50,000 a year earmarked for the launch of The Dome in Crewe later this year. This multiyear funding commitment initially amounts to £650,000 with the hope of additional funding for further years as the partnership develops.

By working in collaboration with the UBS Optimus Foundation, the Steve Morgan Foundation grant will be increased by a further 10% which means even more money for the essential work of OnSide. The funding will cover essential staff costs to support the organisations’ core offer of providing access to trained youth worker professionals. 

The Steve Morgan Foundation firmly believes in the power of collaboration to deliver effective positive change, and forming long-term partnerships with organisations such as OnSide is a key part of our strategy and commitment to changing lives for good.  

The Foundation’s Steve Morgan expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership:

“I have a long-standing relationship with OnSide, dating back to my involvement with Wolverhampton Wanderers. In 2012, the Steve Morgan Foundation designed and built The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton, providing a safe environment for young people to have fun and thrive. Over 17,500 youngsters have benefited from the activities and support offered there. 

 Having witnessed the positive impact OnSide has on young people, we are delighted to continue supporting their vital work in our region.” 

Liam Eaglestone, CEO at the Steve Morgan Foundation said: 

“OnSide provides wonderful, and much needed, facilities for young people in our region through their brilliant Youth Zones, but much more than this, through their fantastic and dedicated staff and volunteers, they actively invest in the lives of young people day in and day out, every week of the year. Alongside our funding partners, UBS Optimus Foundation, we are proud to invest in the work of OnSide and play our part in creating positive impact and outcomes for young people.” 

OnSide collaborates with corporate partners to build and sustain a network of state-of-the-art Youth Zones in the UK’s most disadvantaged areas. These centres are vibrant spaces filled with energy, inspiration, and highly skilled youth workers who offer trusted support and life-changing opportunities. 

In addition to the Youth Zones, OnSide delivers projects aimed at enhancing local activities and ensuring young people have the skills and support they need to succeed. Their ‘Youth Voice’ project empowers youngsters to have a meaningful and impactful voice in their communities. 

Commenting on the funding and partnership, Jamie Masraff, CEO of OnSide, said: 

“We’re proud that The Steve Morgan Foundation has been a long-term supporter of our brilliant OnSide Youth Zones that serve the Foundation’s geographic focuses. We are over the moon that these Youth Zones have not only been awarded £650,000 but that we’re also a Steve Morgan Foundation Strategic Partner. This investment will provide opportunities for thousands of young people and community links to The Way, Wolverhampton Youth Zone, The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone, and Warrington Youth Zone, as well as the Crewe site currently in development. And it gets even better, thanks to UBS Optimus Foundation, a partner of The Steve Morgan Foundation and OnSide, we can make even more of a difference to young people, with an additional 10% match!”  

The Steve Morgan Foundation 2024 highlights

2024 has been a landmark year for the Steve Morgan Foundation with a number of worthy charities and initiatives successfully supported, funded, and launched across Merseyside, North Wales, West Cheshire, and North Shropshire, as part of our ongoing commitment to changing lives for good.

We are delighted to have collaborated with organisations working to address a range of important issues this year, including poverty, educational inequalities, health and wellbeing, and many more.

In no particular order, we take a look back at just some of our highlights from 2024. 

Launch of the Coronation Food Project

To kick off 2024, the Steve Morgan Foundation pledged £890,000 to the Coronation Food Project to help bridge the gap between food waste and food poverty across Merseyside and North Wales. The funding goes directly to the new Coronation Food Hub in Liverpool operated by FareShare and will fund 50 percent of the Hub’s running costs for three years.

The Hub was officially launched by His Majesty the King on 14 November. He joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony via video link from a second Coronation Food Hub opening in London, where he was joined by Sally and Steve Morgan CBE.

Collaboration tackling educational inequalities in Kirkby 

LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community set aside their on-the-pitch rivalry to form a unique collaboration with the Steve Morgan Foundation, the University of Liverpool and education charity IntoUniversity, to fund a new learning centre in Kirkby providing academic support, mentoring and aspiration-raising activities.

The centre offers after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops, and enrichment and work experience opportunities.

Steve Morgan Foundation 2024 Conference & Awards

In April, we held our Conference & Awards celebration event, bringing together the Foundation’s family of charities for a day to inspire, resource, and celebrate.

With inspirational keynote speeches, a live interview with Steve Morgan and a series of collaborative workshops, the day culminated with the prestigious awards to celebrate the incredible work of the organisations and people supported by the Foundation, recognising the valuable contribution they make towards changing lives for good.

We were delighted to award over £100,000 to local charities, with the winning charity of each award receiving £10,000 and a further £2,000 awarded to the remaining two category finalists.

100th minibus donation milestone reached

The Steve Morgan Foundation was thrilled to donate our 100th minibus to Walton Youth and Community Project. The Project applied for our minibus grant to replace its ailing 15-year-old bus, which was proving too costly to keep on the road and was impacting the charity’s funds. Read more here.

Steve Morgan presenting 100th minibus donation

Strategic partnership awards recognition

The Steve Morgan Foundation and Everton in the Community (EitC)’s collaborative initiative, the ‘Steve Morgan Community Impact Model’ was recognised as the ‘Best Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme’ at the prestigious Football Business Awards 2024 as well as finalists for the ‘Community Initiative of the Season Award – Premier League’ at the North West Football Awards;

Liverpool FC Foundation received silver for ‘Best Sports Community Scheme – UK Football Clubs’ at the Sports Business Awards for our Community Hubs partnership.

We are delighted that our strategic partnerships with our region’s top football clubs have been recognised this year for making a real positive difference to our communities. 

Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge announces vital research funding

A standout 2024 highlight was the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge milestone, pledging more than £2.7 million in funding through the novel insulins challenge to transform type 1 diabetes treatment. This vital funding will accelerate the development of insulins that more closely mimic how a healthy pancreas works, which could improve the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes.

In 2022, the Steve Morgan Foundation brought together Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D to super-charge the research towards a cure for type 1 diabetes through the Grand Challenge initiative, a five-year programme to accelerate medical research into type 1 diabetes. 

Steve Morgan honoured for North Wales philanthropy efforts

Over the summer, the Foundation’s Chairman, Steve Morgan, was honoured for his outstanding contributions to North Wales communities, receiving a Community Foundation Wales Philanthropy Award. The awards recognise and highlight the work of individuals going above and beyond for their local communities and aims to inspire and encourage others to start their philanthropic journey.

Maggie’s Centre in North Wales breaks ground

This year, we were delighted to announce that construction had begun on Maggie’s Cancer Support Centre in North Wales, which has been designed, commissioned and funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation.

The centre is being built in the grounds of Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire. It will provide free practical, psychological and emotional support for people with cancer, as well as their family and friends.

The project broke ground in October and it is expected the centre will be open by the end of 2025. Read all about it here.

Maggie's North Wales ground breaking

Supercharging philanthropy

Our CEO, Liam Eaglestone, took part in the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Supercharging Philanthropy event at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. Liam discussed the impactful work of the Steve Morgan Foundation and how working in partnership with charities, other funders and the statutory authorities is so important to achieving lasting change for our communities.

Celebrating Cradle to Career success

Cradle to Career North Birkenhead, a programme initiated by Steve Morgan, marked its fourth anniversary this year. Cradle to Career brings together the local authority and third-sector organisations to deliver systematic and long-term change to improve outcomes for children and young people in the most deprived areas in the Liverpool City Region.

We celebrated its impact in North Birkenhead, which has seen Liverpool City Region Combined Authority invest £5.25 million to extend the programme into five more of the region’s most deprived wards.

Find out the impact of the programme’s place-based change approach here.

Big Give’s Christmas Challenge

From 3 to 10 December, the Steve Morgan Foundation was pleased to join Big Give’s Christmas Challenge, the UK’s largest-ever match funding campaign. Coinciding with Giving Tuesday, the campaign aims to raise tens of millions of pounds for over 1,250 charities, by doubling public donations through match funding from Big Give’s Champion partners, including the Steve Morgan Foundation.

This year, the Challenge raised a record £44.7 million in just one week, representing a remarkable 35 percent increase from last year’s total of £33 million. 

Looking ahead

The Steve Morgan Foundation is excited to continue working strategically to make a positive difference to those in need. By developing long-term partnerships, we strive to improve quality of life for those less fortunate. We look forward to continuing to create lasting, meaningful change in 2025, supporting our existing partners and projects, as well as working with new beneficiaries across our region.

A festive day at the theatre with the Steve Morgan Foundation

On Saturday, 14th December, the Steve Morgan Foundation brought festive cheer to the region by organising a magical visit to the Storyhouse Garret Theatre in Chester. The SMF team was joined by 250 children, their families and charity leaders from selected partner organisations for a special viewing of the Christmas play, Dear Santa. 

After the performance, the children experienced more festive cheer with the opportunity to meet Santa in his grotto and receive a Christmas gift.

Storyhouse is an independent arts centre, creative hub, and charity, providing the perfect setting for this year’s Christmas event. Dear Santa, created by the author of the beloved children’s book Dear Zoo, tells the heartwarming story of Santa’s quest to deliver the perfect Christmas present to Sarah, with a little help from his mischievous Elf.

The festive theatre trip reflected the Foundation’s commitment to supporting families and creating memorable experiences for children in the community.

Liam Eaglestone, CEO of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said:

“Christmas is a time for bringing people together, and it means so much to the team at the Steve Morgan Foundation to be able to hold these events.  We were thrilled to do something a bit different this year by bringing the children to the Storyhouse”.

One charity who attended the event shared their thoughts:

“This was such a magical day for our children. They loved the play, meeting Santa, and the wonderful gift they received. We are so grateful to the Steve Morgan Foundation for organising this experience.”

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Cradle to Career: an SMF initiative that is transforming North Birkenhead and beyond

In 2019, our Founder and Chairman Steve Morgan initiated the hugely impactful Cradle to Career programme, which brought together the local authority and third-sector organisations to deliver systematic and long-term change to improve outcomes for children and young people in North Birkenhead, one of the most deprived areas in the Liverpool City Region.

Now, as Cradle to Career completes its fourth year since the programme launched, we celebrate its impact and subsequent expansion across Liverpool.

North Birkenhead Cradle to Career’s three areas of focus

Working in collaboration with our funding partners SHINE & UBS, our lead delivery partner Right to Succeed and Wirral Council, we embarked on an ambitious 12-month discovery period to establish the priorities, needs, challenges and aspirations for residents, professionals and partners.

Through this process the local community identified three priority focus areas:

  1. Significantly improve literacy standards among children
  2. Give families easy access to the support they need
  3. Create new opportunities for local children and young people.

Implementing change

Affecting change in the three focus areas has been the combined effort of a number of dedicated organisations – a total of 43 partners are now engaged locally. While improving child literacy involved programme development between local schools, and the youth offer depended largely on the third sector, it was the Wirral Council who held sway over the second priority – giving families in need access to the support they needed.

Through the creation of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of community-based specialists, referrals and support now happen much quicker with the right person at the right time getting to these families to make these changes.

Caseloads have dropped significantly and social workers can spend more time working on the most urgent cases or focusing on preventative work that was squeezed out before. 

The MDT also has a worker linked with each of the area’s eight schools. As a result of this collaboration and light intervention, attendance has climbed an average of 16%, bucking the national trend of falling attendance.

The charity partners attend weekly meetings alongside the MDT and this collaborative working, the guiding principle behind the Cradle to Career programme, has brought together third-sector organisations who would otherwise be in stiff competition for limited funding and sometimes duplicating efforts.

The impact of Cradle to Career

We are delighted to see the impact that Cradle to Career and our placed-based change approach is having on the community in North Birkenhead:

  • Gone from being the highest-need community in Wirral since records started to the fourth-highest
  • Almost twice the rate of child protection step-downs compared to Wirral as a whole
  • Reported a 20% reduction in re-referrals to social care and is no longer the highest referring ward
  • In literacy, a 15-month reading gap was closed in the first three years across four year groups
  • After four years, all children aged 8-16 are now on average at national reading age expectation
  • For pupils with SEND who have been on the programme since year 1, there has, on average, been an increase in reading ability that aligns with over half a GCSE grade

Following its impact in North Birkenhead, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is now investing £5.25 million to extend the programme into five more of the region’s most deprived wards. Mayor Steve Rotherham called the programme a “radical, bespoke approach that works with the communities to identify local issues and empowers them to come up with solutions.” 

Steve Morgan, CBE said:

“I firmly believe that collaborative working is the most effective strategy for delivering change, which was the driver behind setting up the Cradle to Career programme. The impact the initiative has had clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when services join together and focus on real local priorities informed by the people they were established to serve.

“The Steve Morgan Foundation has committed £4.9million of funding to date to the Cradle to Career programme and we remain a primary catalyst, investor and champion.”

Read more about the Cradle to Career programme here

The Steve Morgan Foundation joins Big Give’s record-breaking Christmas Challenge

Big Give’s Christmas Challenge, the UK’s largest-ever match funding campaign runs from 3rd to 10th December 2024, and coinciding with Giving Tuesday, the campaign aims to raise tens of millions of pounds for over 1,250 charities, by doubling public donations through match funding from Big Give’s Champion partners.

This year’s Challenge is set to break records, with over £20 million in match funds secured, thanks to the generosity of Champions, including the Steve Morgan Foundation. The Christmas Challenge runs until 12 noon on 10th December 2024.

To double your donation and make double the difference this Christmas, click here.

Supporting charities across Merseyside, North Wales, West Cheshire, and North Shropshire, the Steve Morgan Foundation is committed to empowering local communities and driving positive change. From 3rd to 10th December, donations made to their chosen charities will be doubled, enabling these organisations to make an even bigger impact.

Spotlight on impact: Shrewsbury House

One of the charities benefiting from the Steve Morgan Foundation’s support this year is Shrewsbury House, a Youth Club serving one of the most deprived wards in the UK.

Shrewsbury House

Shrewsbury House is looking to raise funds to ensure that the ratios of staff to children and young adults are safe and appropriate for the delivery of a full programme of activities within the Club and on residential visits and projects.

“Community centres such as the Shewsy are one of the most important hubs across Liverpool that give people an opportunity to socialise and access key services. They offer fantastic opportunities for children to experience activities. At NLA, we are extremely proud to work alongside the Shewsy”

– Alex Kennedy, Assistant Principal, North Liverpool Academy

Big Give: Transforming lives through match funding

Since its inception in 2007, Big Give has raised over £300 million for thousands of charities, with nearly half of the funds supporting small charities with annual incomes under £1 million. At a time when economic challenges and surging demand stretch resources, the funds raised through the Christmas Challenge are a vital lifeline. By doubling public donations through match funding from Big Give Champions, the campaign maximises impact for both donors and charities alike.

In 2023, the Christmas Challenge raised an impressive £33 million for 1,077 charities through over 94,000 public donations, with 74% of participants meeting or exceeding their fundraising goals. This year marks a milestone with a record-breaking amount of match funding secured.

Liam Eaglestone, CEO of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said:

“We are delighted to lend our support to the Big Give Christmas Challenge. By being a Champion of this fantastic initiative, we hope that we can encourage further support for the vital charities across our region, and to showcase the power of partnerships in helping deliver impactful change. Through our work with hundreds of grassroots charities, we know just how stretched resources can be and we are looking forward to working alongside the Big Give team to help drive record levels of donations through the Christmas Challenge.”

James Reed, Chair of the Trustees of Big Give, said:

“With a record level of match funds provided by our Champion partners, we’re calling on the amazingly generous British public to help make this our most impactful campaign yet. When people give to us they are not giving to Big Give, they are giving through Big Give to charitable causes they really care about, and this year there are 1,250 charities that stand to benefit. Every donation will be doubled so you can double the difference you make. We are especially grateful to the Steve Morgan Foundation for joining us as a Champion this year. Their support will empower charities across Merseyside, North Wales, West Cheshire, and North Shropshire to deliver meaningful, positive change in their local communities.”

The Christmas Challenge runs until 12 noon on 10th December 2024. To double your donation and make double the difference this Christmas, click here.

You can also watch the Christmas Challenge video here.

King Charles opens Coronation Food Hub funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation

On November 14, His Majesty The King officially launched FareShare’s new Merseyside Coronation Food Hub in Knowsley. He joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony via video link from a second Coronation Food Hub opened simultaneously in London, where he was joined by Steve and Sally Morgan.

The new, expanded Knowsley site will enable FareShare’s operations to provide more surplus food that would otherwise go to waste to local communities and people in need across the region, and was made possible thanks to generous donations from the Steve Morgan Foundation and other supporters.

The funding from the Steve Morgan Foundation will cover fifty percent of the running costs of the Merseyside Coronation Food Hub for three years.

Launching the new Merseyside Hub, Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare said:

“We know that opening a larger site with greater capacity will make a huge difference, and we’re enormously grateful to all our partners, especially the Steve Morgan Foundation, who have helped bring this project to fruition.

This new Coronation Food Hub will be instrumental in getting food that might otherwise have gone to waste to more communities more efficiently. This will be transformative for surplus food in Merseyside and beyond, making a huge difference to our capacity for redistributing food to organisations which are providing essential support services and strengthening their communities.” 

Steve Morgan CBE, Chairman of the Steve Morgan Foundation said:

“We are thrilled to see the opening of the new Coronation Food Hub in Merseyside. 12 months ago, we pledged £890,000 to the project to support our region with better surplus food distribution. By working in collaboration with FareShare and other funders, delivery partners and community groups, we hope to not only reduce food waste, but to tackle the root causes of food poverty in our communities for the long-term.”

The Coronation Food Project, inspired by His Majesty The King, was created in 2023 to re-imagine the UK’s food supply chains and help end food insecurity. The launch of the new Hubs in Merseyside and London marks an important milestone along this journey to improving food distribution.

Attending the launch event in Merseyside, Liam Eaglestone, CEO of the Steve Morgan Foundation commented:

“We are here to stand alongside so many of the incredible charities that work with FareShare and further afield. We know first-hand the challenges they face in getting food to people who are hungry. It is good to see organisations and people working together to tackle the duel challenge of food waste and food poverty.”

This new site will allow the FareShare team, which is largely made up of volunteers, to distribute a wider variety of food, including fresh produce, frozen and chilled items, and ambient food, via regular deliveries across the region. Alongside increased capacity, the move will see improved resources, including kitchens on site and greater efficiency in terms of receiving and distributing food, all helping to reach more communities in need. 

The Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mark Blundell, cut the ribbon on the new building.

Sam O’Keeffe, from St Matthews Pantry, an organisation which receives food from FareShare Merseyside added:

“St Matthews Pantry has been getting food from FareShare for almost 3 years now and it makes a huge difference. We support 130 families in the local community each week and we are able to provide a variety of food thanks to the support from FareShare. The opening of this new Coronation Food Hub will benefit so many more organisations like ours and help many more communities in Merseyside.”

Liam Eaglestone added:

“With research published this month (November 2024) indicating that one in three children are now living in poverty, it is vital that funders, public bodies and grassroots charities double down on their efforts to collaborate and deliver the changes that we know are so desperately needed in our communities.

Read more here about the Coronation Food Project.

Read more here about FareShare.

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