Introducing the EitC and SMF Ambassadors

We are delighted to announce that Everton first team stars James Tarkowski and Courtney Brosnan and former Blues player Leon Osman have joined forces with Everton in the Community and the Steve Morgan Foundation to become official Ambassadors of our strategic partnership, championing the Steve Morgan Community Impact Model.

The Steve Morgan Foundation has been working with the charitable arm of Everton Football Club since 2020, delivering the ‘Steve Morgan Community Impact Model’ in Speke-Garston to protect young people from exploitation and inspire them to reach their full potential. In July 2023, the Foundation awarded additional funding to extend the Impact Model to Liverpool 4 and South Sefton – with both communities also facing a number of socio-economic challenges that severely hinder educational achievements. The trio of new ambassadors will work to support this delivery and visit sessions during the course of the season.

Made possible thanks to the funding received from Steve Morgan Foundation, Everton in the Community’s delivery of the Impact Model has significantly enhanced the lives of more than 13,500 young people in Speke-Garston and contributed to wider school and community changes, including improved literary scores and declining anti-social behaviour trends in an area where 40% of young people aged 16+ have no qualifications and 40% of children live in poverty. The new funding for Liverpool 4 and South Sefton has seen the charity commence targeted interventions in identified high schools and primary schools, with the aim of replicating the positive impact achieved in Speke-Garston.

As EitC and Steve Morgan Foundation Ambassadors, Tarkowski, Brosnan and Osman will help raise awareness of the Impact Model and the remarkable impact it has had on South Liverpool, L4 and South Sefton. Their role will also see them visit Steve Morgan Foundation-funded sessions and witness the beneficial effects that the charity’s delivery has had on the lives of thousands of young people across Liverpool City Region.

Comments from our new ambassadors

Toffees defender Tarkowski: “It’s always a pleasure to support Everton in the Community’s work, and I’ve seen first-hand the impact of their delivery of the Steve Morgan Community Impact Model in raising children’s self-esteem when I visited a local secondary school last year. It’s a fantastic programme that’s truly making a positive difference to the lives of many young people across Liverpool and it’s an honour to endorse it.”

Everton Women goalkeeper Brosnan: “I’ve had the privilege of attending a number of the charity’s sessions over the years and meeting the participants who benefit from its work. It’s clear to see that the Steve Morgan Community Impact Model has been instrumental in tackling the many barriers facing young people within the local community, so it’s a great opportunity to be able to support the programme and I look forward to visiting one of the sessions.”

Former Blues stalwart Leon Osman: “I’m proud to be able to represent both Everton in the Community and the Steve Morgan Foundation in this ambassadorial role. The work the charity has achieved in raising the aspirations of young people within the most deprived communities across the city is astounding and it’s a pleasure to be able to help promote its significant impact even further.”

Changing lives for good

Liam Eaglestone, CEO of the Steve Morgan Foundation added: “We are delighted that the Steve Morgan Impact Model is having such a significant effect on the lives of so many young people in our region. Along with our commitment to provide long-term secure funding for our partnership with Everton in the Community, we will also continue to provide practical support and expertise to keep driving positive change.

“With the additional support of our new ambassadors championing the Impact Model, we’re looking forward to changing more young lives for good.”

Sue Gregory, Chief Executive Officer at Everton in the Community stated: “We’re thrilled to welcome James, Courtney and Leon onboard as our first ever EitC and Steve Morgan Foundation Ambassadors. It’s fantastic to get their backing in reinforcing the objectives of our Impact Model as well as the significant value it has had and continues to have on the lives of so many young people in the most deprived communities across the city region.

“Our vision is to keep creating positive systematic change in South Liverpool, L4 and South Sefton, and with the support of these fantastic role models, this will help to further enforce that messaging and promote our partnership with the Steve Morgan Foundation far and wide.”

Open Door Charity Case Study

The Steve Morgan Foundation has been a key funder and strong supporter of Open Door over a 12-year period, allowing the charity to grow the free support it offers to young people so that it can continue to shape change around mental health.

In 2018, a time of financial crises for the charity, we quickly recognised the need for compassion and a flexible approach to allow them to continue operating. We stepped in to support a key role within the charity.

As an Associate Charity of the Foundation, our continued support will play a key role in the charity’s growth, assisting them to become more financially sustainable by funding key infrastructure costs and providing access to a wider network of peer organisations to help them solve shared challenges and promote cohesion.

About Open Door Charity

Open Door Charity is one of Merseyside’s most dynamic and progressive independent charities. Based in Birkenhead, it delivers a holistic and creative programme of services that supports the wellbeing and mental health of young people and their families. All of its programmes are free of charge, with no waiting lists. Its services are engaging and versatile, providing choices that aren’t available through conventional mental health services.

Since it began 12 years ago, Open Door has shone a light on the positive impact that communities can have in the world when the people within them come together to exact real change. What started as a grassroots, modest concept, it has grown to become a key player in the mental health, culture and voluntary fields.

Open Door has been through a significant period of development over the past few years. Not only has it taken on new projects and commissioned additional services, it has also grown its team of staff and volunteers and now operates from two main sites in Birkenhead.

A ‘joy’ful new home

The next step for Open Door Charity is the opening of its future home, Joy. Joy will transform the Treasury Annex Building in Birkenhead into a thriving hub for arts, culture, health and wellbeing. Joy will place mental health and clinical support services into a completely different environment that is a dynamic and creative community space. The space is due to open in 2025.

“With support from The Steve Morgan Foundation, we have helped to transform mental health support in Wirral and Merseyside. It has enabled our programmes to flourish and grow. Our future home of Joy, service offering and general worldview is testament to our relationship with the Foundation and how they have allowed us to go from strength to strength, sharing the journey with us.” – Lee Pennington, Director at Open Door Charity

Go to the Open Door Charity website

Steve Morgan Foundation donates 100th minibus

The Steve Morgan Foundation has been providing grants for minibuses and specialised transport since 2006 and has reached a milestone donation of its 100^th minibus.

The 100^th minibus has been awarded to Walton Youth and Community Project and was proudly presented to the charity by the Foundation’s founder Steve Morgan.

Our grant funding covers both standard and wheelchair accessible minibuses for beneficiaries such as SEN schools, charities and community transport organisations. We also fund other essential transport vehicles including blood bikes and vans. The first minibus in our fleet was awarded to The Barstondale Centre in March 2006 and, almost exactly 18 years on, we are delighted to be giving away our 100^th minibus, complete with branding.

About Walton Youth and Community Project

Walton Youth was founded in 1960 as a centre to engage with young people and families from the local area and wider community of Walton in North Liverpool. Their mission is to provide a bustling hub of community activity involving people of all ages. They adopt a ‘grassroots’ approach to encourage meaningful relationships, increase opportunities and aspirations, provide an inclusive service and enable active participation.

The charity offers a localised needs-led provision that evolves in the reflection of community needs and is accessible five days a week, covering evenings, nights and weekends to provide support when it’s needed the most by its users.

Walton Youth and Community Project applied for our minibus grant to replace their ailing 15-year-old bus, which was proving too costly to keep on the road and was impacting on the charity’s funds.

The new minibus will allow the charity to continue offering enrichment activities and day trips as well as provide its daily services of delivering food parcels and activity packs to the vulnerable, unwell and young carers. It will also provide the transport for taking members to health appointments, job interviews, educational events and shopping trips for those who struggle to access the shops on their own.

On receiving the 100^th minibus, Darren Simpson, Youth and Community Manager at the charity said:

“We are immensely grateful for the generous donation of the 100^th minibus to our project. It is an indispensable resource that will enable us to continue our mission of Changing Lives for the Better and will have a significant impact on our ability to offer a more comprehensive approach to youth and community provision.

The bus will allow our community to experience new things and explore the world beyond the borders of Liverpool. We cannot thank The Steve Morgan Foundation enough for their support.”

Congratulations to the Steve Morgan Foundation 2024 Awards Finalists

Well done to all the charities that have been shortlisted as finalists in the Steve Morgan Foundation 2024 Awards.

The Awards celebrate the fantastic work of the organisations and people within our family of charities, recognising the valuable contribution they make towards changing lives for good.

This year, prize money of more than £100,000 will be awarded for outstanding service delivery and commitment across eight award categories. The winning charity of each award will receive £10,000 with £2,000 for the two other finalists in each category.

Charities that are currently receiving funding from the Steve Morgan Foundation were invited to enter the awards, and our Trustees have had the extremely difficult task of whittling down over 100 entries to just three finalists in each award category.

The Foundation’s founder and Chair of Trustees, Steve Morgan, commented:

“It was fantastic to read about all the amazing work that is being done for our communities within our family of charities and every entry we received was worthy of recognition. The standard of entries to this year’s awards has been extremely high and it was certainly no easy task to select the finalists. I look forward to congratulating our finalists in person next month at the awards presentation and celebrating all the fantastic achievements.”

The Steve Morgan Foundation 2024 Awards finalists:

Individual Awards

Charity Leader of the Year

Deryn Basnett, The Martin Gallier Project

Kim Steele, Pure Insight

Kathy Wright, Maggie’s, Wirral Centre

Volunteer of the Year

Janet Heath, NEO Community

John Mcateer, Sean’s Place

Ben Meadows, Cerebral Palsy United FC

Young Volunteer of the Year (under 21)

Rebecca Clark, Pure Insight

George Cole, Wirral Society of the Blind & Partially Sighted

Milly Holmes, CREDU

Community Impact Awards

Best small/medium charity or social enterprise (t/o less than £1m)

Breckfield & North Everton Neighbourhood Council

CELLS Project

Imagine If Trust

Best large charity or social enterprise (t/o more than £1m)
End Furniture Poverty

Everton in the Community

The First Step

Other awards

Disruptor for good

Down Syndrome Cheshire

Everton in the Community

Open Door Charity

Partnership of the year

JDRF & Diabetes UK delivering ‘The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge’

Koala Northwest delivering ‘Wirral Family Toolbox Alliance’ in partnership with – Shaftesbury Youth Club, WEB, Caritas, The Foundation Years Trust, Involve NW, and Ferries Family Groups

Right to Succeed delivering ‘Cradle to Career’ in partnership with over 100 organisations

In addition to the above finalists, there will also be a discretionary award given for Outstanding Contribution. The winner of this award will be personally selected by Steve Morgan from the entries received across all award categories.

The Steve Morgan Foundation 2024 Conference & Awards

Presentations of the awards will take place at our Conference and Awards celebration event at Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire on Monday 22^nd April 2024.

The Steve Morgan Foundation Conference & Awards is a day for the charities and organisations we support and partner with. There will be a series of workshops hosted by some of our strategic partners and associate partners covering topics such as The Value of Community, Living Your Brand Values, Planning for Organisational Growth and Place-based Change, as well as inspirational keynote speeches.

We look forward to announcing the award winners and sharing their stories, along with photos of the event.

#SMFawards24 #SMFconference24

Tackling educational inequalities in Kirkby

Young people facing disadvantage from Kirkby and the surrounding areas will have a significantly enhanced opportunity to attend higher education, thanks to a new children’s education centre in the heart of the town.

LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community have 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 new education facility celebrated an opening event at its centre in Kirkby, joined by special guests former Everton player and club ambassador Ian Snodin, and former Liverpool and England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

Attending the event were around 25 students aged 7-18 who are set to benefit from the centre for the next academic year and beyond, with some of them delivering speeches.

Primary school students took part in a variety of activities during the event replicating the type of activities they will be engaging with in the year ahead during after-school academic support sessions. Secondary school students posed questions about future study and careers to survey attending guests.

Pic from IntoUniversity Kirkby education centre launch event

Around 35.1% of children in Kirkby are living in poverty, and the town is an IMD (index of multiple deprivation) decile 1 area, meaning it’s among the 10% most deprived places nationally. The local progression rate into higher education is just 26.9%, compared to 44% of students nationally, making the area a prime location for an IntoUniversity centre.

The centre employs four full-time members of staff and will be used to offer after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities.

IntoUniversity has a proven track record of improving attainment into higher education for students facing disadvantage, and currently supports over 50,000 young people each year at their 41 centres nationwide.

61% of students who attend IntoUniversity centres go on to progress to university, compared with 28% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.

The centre is a joint venture between IntoUniversity, the University of Liverpool, LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community and The Steve Morgan Foundation, and is also supported by a number of philanthropic and corporate partners.

Liam Eaglestone, CEO at the Steve Morgan Foundation said:

“We are thrilled to see the official opening of the new Kirkby Centre. At the Steve Morgan Foundation, we firmly believe that working in partnership to achieve a shared goal is the best way to deliver the greatest impact in changing the lives and opportunities for our young people. We are excited to see the positive difference that this unique and ground-breaking collaboration between our organisations could have.”

The official opening of the new education centre follows the announcement of the joint investment last Autumn.

The Coronation Food Project: bringing communities together

The Steve Morgan Foundation firmly believes in collaboration between funders, delivery partners and community groups in order to facilitate change and tackle the root causes of food poverty and deprivation.

The launch of the new Coronation Food Hub in Liverpool, operated by FareShare, took place in January and brought together community groups, food providers and our funding partners, all with the shared goal of reducing food waste and improving food insecurity in some of the most deprived areas in the region.

We were delighted to again be collaborating with one of our Associate Partners, NEO Community, key providers of food assistance and support, who kindly provided the catering for the launch event (all proceeds going back into the charity of course).

Neo Community at the Coronation Food Project hub launch

Neo delivers a range of services in support of its local and wider community in the Wirral and North Wales and, over the last ten years, has grown to become an award-winning provider of food assistance and grassroots help. It promotes the growth of self-sustaining, resilient communities, and is at the forefront of reducing food waste. Among its services, Neo runs a community café and social supermarket, operating on a highly successful ‘pay as you feel’ system where individuals are encouraged to contribute what they feel is a fair price based on their financial means.

We asked Neo Community’s CEO, Ema Wilkes, to give her view on the Coronation Food Project and how it will impact the work they do.

Ema said: “Neo Community acknowledges the critical role of collaborations like this one and it’s refreshing to see funders, delivery partners and community groups all around one table and getting involved in the same conversations. Communicating and working together is not only going to support food distribution, it also has the potential to address systemic issues contributing to poverty and deprivation. By addressing the root causes, such as inadequate access to resources and economic disparities, the Coronation Food Project can create lasting change within the community, empowering individuals and promoting sustainable development.

The collaboration between the Steve Morgan Foundation and the Coronation Food Project holds tremendous promise in bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Merseyside and North Wales. By working together, surplus food resources can be redirected to those in need, alleviating food insecurity within the community. This concerted effort directly aligns with the mission of Neo Community, as it ensures that vulnerable individuals and families have access to nutritious meals, fostering resilience and wellbeing.”

Commenting on how Neo Community will directly benefit from the Coronation Food Project, Ema adds:

“We have worked with Fareshare for the past nine years and are excited to see the extra support in lobbying and food availability that this vital funding will bring. We hope it will allow us to support more individuals and add to our holiday provision and skill base of the team with the added trainings promised through the programme.”

You can learn more about Neo Community and the excellent work they do here.

New funding announced to supercharge the Coronation Food Project

The Steve Morgan Foundation has 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 will go directly to the new Coronation Food Hub in Liverpool operated by FareShare, the UK’s biggest food redistribution charity, and will fund fifty percent of the running costs of the Hub for three years.

The money, along with donations from other supporters, will be used to double the existing warehouse capacity in Speke and to develop a training kitchen which will also act as a decanting kitchen allowing FareShare to make the most of donated fresh ingredients and help to deliver ‘ready meals’ where needed. The money will also fund three new members of staff and purchase five additional vans. All of this will improve the resources and efficiency of the food being received and distributed and will assist with the expansion plans to reach more communities in need.

With 140 community groups on the waiting list for surplus food, the funding will also help FareShare to begin providing food to two new groups per week and provide additional support directly to those in need. Other benefits of the funding include creating sustainable career opportunities, as volunteer staff will be given the chance to gain professional qualifications in the roles they undertake at the distribution centre.

The funding was formally announced at a reception on 23 January, organised by the Steve Morgan Foundation and hosted by FareShare, at the new Coronation Food Hub in Speke, Liverpool. The event brought together community groups, food providers and the Coronation Food Project partners to tackle the root causes of food poverty.

George Wright, CEO of FareShare commented:

“We are enormously grateful to the Steve Morgan Foundation for such a generous contribution, which will kick start the new Coronation Food Hub in Merseyside. Since its launch in November, the Coronation Food Project has brought together partners from across the food industry and beyond, to collaborate on new ways to address food insecurity and reduce food waste. The support the project has received to date has been incredible, with this landmark project already generating significantly more food for the 8,500 charities within our network, delivering millions more meals.

This launch of the first Coronation Food Hub will be instrumental in getting food that might otherwise have gone to waste, to more communities, more efficiently. This support will be transformative for surplus food redistribution in Merseyside and beyond. It will not only help us reach more charities and community groups, from afterschool and breakfast clubs to hospices and homelessness charities, but allow us to deliver additional benefits to support people in need.”

In addition to the financial support for the Coronation Food Hub, the Foundation will work closely with FareShare and the community groups to provide on-the-ground knowledge and expertise.

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

“We are delighted to be able to support the Coronation Food Hub. We recognise that collaborations such as these between funders, delivery partners and community groups are essential to not only improving food distribution but to tackling the root causes of poverty and deprivation.

“Getting surplus food to hungry people is not easy and, despite best intentions, does not always work on the ground. Having grown up in the area served by the facility and from working with hundreds of local community groups, I know first-hand the challenges faced by families in our region. We are looking forward to working closely with FareShare to bring this powerful partnership to life and tackle the very real and daunting need in our communities.”

The Coronation Food Project, which was inspired by The King and launched on His Majesty’s 75th birthday, aims to create a fairer and more sustainable future by saving more surplus food, supercharging food distribution through distribution centres, and supporting the wider sector with flexible funding. The initiative is being led by Dame Martina Milburn and Baroness Louise Casey and is coordinated by the King Charles III Charitable Fund, with Dori Dana-Haeri leading the fundraising appeal as Chair of the Project’s Development Committee.

Dame Martina Milburn comments:

“Since the Coronation Food Project was launched by The King and Queen last year, we’ve been seeking support from partners who share our mission to reduce food waste and tackle food poverty. I am so delighted that the Steve Morgan Foundation, has stepped forward to fund the new Coronation Food Hub in Merseyside. This is going to make a transformational difference in the area – helping to rescue tonnes more surplus food and circulate it to communities in great need.”

Dori Dana-Haeri said:

“I was astonished by the scale of both food waste and food poverty in the UK, so I wanted to do something practical to help and I am delighted to be volunteering for the Coronation Food Project. We need more philanthropic leaders, like Steve Morgan, to step forward and support this crucial work.”

Click here to listen to the speeches from the launch reception and learn more about how the funding will be used to supercharge food distribution and bridge the gap between food waste and food need across our region.

A Steve Morgan Foundation Christmas celebration

On Sunday 10th December, we welcomed over 200 children and their families from selected organisations across the region to a children’s Christmas party at Carden Park Hotel.

Our children’s Christmas celebration has been an annual event since 2016 (with the exception of the COVID Christmases) for children’s charities and not-for-profit organisations, as well as some of our Enable grantees. We were delighted to bring the party back to Carden Park Hotel following a visit to the panto last year.

Liam Eaglestone, CEO at the Steve Morgan Foundation said:

“Our Christmas party is a great opportunity for children to come together and celebrate with other youngsters in our community in a safe and fun environment. It was fabulous to be together and see the excitement and joy on the children’s faces.

The wonderful YKids (one of our Associate Partners) lead from the front and we were delighted to be joined by some very special guests including the elves Dash and Gordon, Captain Jack Sparrow, and the tremendous Father Christmas. The children enjoyed a range of activities varying from party games and face painting, to making reindeer food and ‘human’ gift wrapping!

The team at SMF all look forward to our Christmas festivities and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to host this year’s event with support from YKids and the amazing Carden Park Hotel team.”

“We had brilliant time at the Steve Morgan Foundation Christmas party. Thank you so much for inviting us. Merry Christmas to all the SMF staff who worked so hard to ensure everyone had a great time.”

Cerebral Palsy United FC

“Thank you to the Steve Morgan Foundation for inviting our members to your Christmas party. They all had a fantastic time.”

Down Syndrome Cheshire

“Can you please pass on our thanks to everyone for a great day! The children and staff really enjoyed it, and were in awe of Carden Park!!!

The only improvement we could suggest, could be ear defenders for the adults to use while driving back, some protection from a full bus of hyper energized and happy children singing Christmas songs for an hour. Merry Christmas to all at the Foundation!”

Brighter Futures, Rhyl

Race to cure type 1 diabetes gets new boost

We’re thrilled to unveil the latest research funded by the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge – a ground-breaking partnership between us, Diabetes UK and JDRF, following our momentous £50 million pledge into finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Earlier this year, we called on scientists to submit research proposals to get us closer to having new treatments for people with type 1 diabetes that tackle the root cause of their condition and restore their insulin-making beta cells.

Now, over £13 million of funding will support six outstanding research teams – made up of 40 scientists, working at 18 different institutions in the UK and Europe – to fast-track discoveries that could see us make huge strides in how we treat type 1 diabetes.

The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge’s latest awards focus on two key research areas:

Improving methods to grow and transplant insulin-producing beta cells into people with type 1 diabetes.

Understanding how to stop the immune system attack at the root of type 1 diabetes.

Helping people make their own insulin

Professor David Hodson, at the University of Oxford, will lead to team to explore how insulin-boosting molecules, which sit on the surface of beta cells, could be harnessed to create better performing lab-grown beta cells. They will also test if the specialised molecules could help to protect transplanted beta cells from the immune system, or trigger new beta cells to grow inside the pancreas.

Working to create an unlimited supply of elite lab-made beta cells that can deftly respond to changing blood sugar levels will be the mission of the team led by Professor Shanta Persaud and Dr Aileen King, at King’s College London. They will utilise their expertise in human beta cell development to innovate improved methods of turning stem cells into beta cells and ensure they are well equipped to survive transplantation.

Professor Francesca Spagnoli, at King’s College London, will spearhead a multi-disciplinary team who will concentrate on keeping transplanted lab-made beta cells safe from harm. This will include developing a device that beta cells can live inside to protect them from the hostile environment they will face once inside the body.

Searching for ways to help more people benefit from islet transplants will be the focus of Professor Shareen Forbes, at the University of Edinburgh, and her team. Islet transplants involving taking clusters of cells from a donor pancreas and injecting them into the liver of someone with type 1 diabetes. The team will investigate if delivering drugs packaged inside micro-capsules alongside islet transplants could help donated cells produce more insulin and survive for longer.

Stopping the immune attack’s harm

A team led by Dr James Pearson, at Cardiff University, have been awarded funding to investigate how the time of day could impact the effectiveness of an immunotherapy, named Interleukin-2 (IL-2). They will study how cells, which help to shield beta cells from the type 1 diabetes immune attack, respond to IL-2 throughout the day to find the best time to give it to stop type 1 diabetes in its tracks.

Dr Danijela Tatovic, at Cardiff University, will head up a team to explore if combining multiple immunotherapies could make them more effective at protecting beta cells and slowing the progression of type 1 diabetes. Her team will run a clinical trial testing two promising immunotherapies, abatacept and IL-2, in people recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to understand how best to combine the treatments.

Summaries of each of these incredible projects can be found here.

Steve and Sally Morgan, Founders of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said:

“This is an exciting moment in our partnership with Diabetes UK and JDRF UK. We are astounded by the innovation and vision of the new projects and look forward to seeing how the research helps us realise our ambition of transforming the lives of people with type 1 diabetes.”

Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said:

“We’re in a hugely exciting period for the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, as today we welcome six exceptional scientists who will lead exciting multi-disciplinary teams to drive forward this pioneering initiative and build momentum towards our ambitious goal.

“This announcement brings with it fresh hope of a cure for everyone living with type 1 diabetes, and we look forward to seeing how these projects will break new ground in our search for life-changing beta cell therapies and treatments to overcome the type 1 immune system attack.”

Rachel Connor, Director of Research Partnerships at JDRF UK, said:

“Today’s announcement of six newly funded research projects demonstrates the speed and ambition of the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. All six projects hold great promise for people with type 1 diabetes. We can’t wait to see the results of this vital research to transform beta cell therapy and tackle the immune reaction that is at the root of driving type 1.”

Our latest awards take the total amount of funding the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge has awarded in 2023 to over £20 million. We’ll keep you updated on the progress of this extraordinary research as our growing squad of scientists help us step closer to a cure.

Together Type 1 – the power of peer support

Together Type 1 (formerly Our Lives Our Choices Our Voices) recently marked its first anniversary having launched in September 2022, with a £5 million donation from the Steve Morgan Foundation.

The programme is run in partnership with Diabetes UK and brings together young people with type 1 diabetes through the delivery of a UK-wide peer support programme. Today, on World Diabetes Day 2023, we give an insight into what motivated Sally and Steve Morgan to provide this vital funding and support for young people living with type 1.

For other young people living with type 1 diabetes, stories and advice from their peers has the most power to help them feel they can manage their condition and are not facing their challenges alone.

Helping people who live with type 1 find others that they can relate to is vital, as Sally Morgan explains:

“We understand as parents of a boy with type 1 that the most powerful source of support is your peers. There is only so much that other people, who aren’t experiencing living with type 1 day-to-day, can do. If we can reach every young person in the UK out there with type one diabetes and help what can feel quite an isolating condition seem more normal, then that is going to make a difference.”

In October 2023, Young Leader Mike Cox interviewed Steve and Sally Morgan to talk about their motivation for funding Together Type 1.

Youth-led communication

Key to Together Type 1 is its Young Leaders initiative and, at the end of its first year, the programme now has 67 Young Leaders aged between 16 and 25 engaged across the length and breadth of the UK.

These amazing young people are leading on peer support, sharing communications, and also acting as powerful ambassadors for change within the healthcare system, by bringing to the conversation the voice of young people living with type 1. For the wider public, content from these young ambassadors is also helping to combat misconceptions and stigma by driving home the realities of life with type 1.

Creating a legacy

Together Type 1 is now ready to power into year two to deliver dynamic support and lasting change for young people.

“We want to encourage every young person with type 1 to be part of the programme to enrich and to help their lives and – most of all – to know that they are not the only one” – Steve Morgan CBE.

Read more about Together Type 1 and hear from the programme’s Young Leaders here.

Venus Charity Case Study

For over 20 years, the Steve Morgan Foundation has supported Venus Charity in achieving its ambitions with and for its service users. Through listening closely to the lived experience of its clients, we have provided funding for the charity’s family support programmes and helped to strengthen its infrastructure.

The long term, core funding offered with our Associate Charities partnership will future proof Venus Charity and enable it to achieve its ambition of securing a new building for its operations, and build on the success of The Star Centre, its therapeutic centre for young people.

About Venus Charity

Venus is a grassroots charity based in Bootle and Halton. It was founded in 1994, responding to a need for women’s services in South Sefton. Over the last 29 years it has grown its services to include:

Family support
Support for homeless people and refugees/asylum seekers with their tenancies
Therapeutic mental health services to young people
Advice and support via its hub, The Venus Centre, based in Linacre Lane Bootle

Adopting a holistic approach, the charity provides crucial, direct support to around 2,000 people per year.

Fully embedded in the community

The Venus team is fully embedded in the community and has an open door policy. Money pledged by the Steve Morgan Foundation will cover its CEO’s salary costs, releasing her time from fundraising so that she can concentrate on securing a larger space for Venus Charity, creating a financial strategy and strengthening the charity’s crisis intervention offering.

In the last six months since becoming Associate Charity partners, the charity has:

Conducted a time and motion study of use of the Venus Centre to understand what space is needed and for what purpose. The study has helped the charity to understand the flow throughout the building and where increased space is needed.
Worked collaboratively with Alder Hey Hospital, Sefton Council Early Help team and Health Education England to secure additional Recruit to Train studentships, in particular for parenting and 0-5 mental health provision. Venus Charity will host 10 students, including a new parenting team.
Strengthened crisis intervention and frontline hub services through working in partnership with local business FPC, helping to support crisis, rising debt and energy costs facing the community. As part of this, Venus Charity has taken over a local shop to broaden provision in the community.

“The Steve Morgan Foundation takes the time to understand our work and why our presence and actions are needed and wanted by our communities. It has supported us through difficult times and also in times of unprecedented growth.” – Sue Potts, CEO of Venus Charity

Go to the Venus Charity website

Neo Community Case Study

The Steve Morgan Foundation first worked with Neo Community back in 2016, providing much-needed funding at a crucial, early stage of the charity, when it had newly relocated to Rock Ferry and taken over the Beaconsfield Community House. This funding enabled the charity to move from being a small, grass-roots social enterprise to the Wirral-wide community development charity that it is today.

About Neo Community

Neo Community was established in 2013 in response to a growing need for social support and cohesion within the Wirral community. Neo stands for NEED, ENGAGE and ORGANISE community-led change. The organisation was established to identify gaps, listen to community voices, empower communities, and facilitate the delivery of activities, campaigns, and strategies to overcome adversity, local issues and increase community participation and pride.

The organisation’s founders recognised the challenges faced by individuals from vulnerable backgrounds, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and those struggling with mental health issues, and sought to create a platform for people to connect, share experiences, and receive support.

Over the last ten years, Neo Community has grown to become an award winning provider of food assistance and grassroots help across the Wirral and North Wales. The charity promotes the growth of self-sustaining, resilient communities, and is at the forefront of reducing food waste.

A beacon of hope in the Wirral

From its base at the Beaconsfield Community House, Neo Community has implemented a range of activities and programmes, including:

Community events like fairs, picnics, and celebrations that bring together people from various backgrounds, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie.
Support groups for individuals facing specific challenges, such as mental health issues, disability, or bereavement. These groups provide a safe space to share experiences and receive emotional support.
Training workshops on various life skills, including financial management, job-seeking techniques, and digital literacy, with the aim of empowering individuals to improve their quality of life and become more self-reliant.
Social Supermarket and Community Café – Neo Community has nurtured and maintained strong links with local supermarkets and food retailers, allowing it to develop a comprehensive surplus food and supplies offering. The charity operates a ‘pay-as-you-feel’ system for all of its services.

Proudly achieving charity status in March 2019, Neo Community has continued to broaden, develop and deliver its range of services. In the last 12 months, it has fed 15,680 children, saved £171,000 using surplus food, and engaged with over 12,600 individuals.

“Without the trust and belief from the Steve Morgan Foundation, Neo Community would never have been able to have the impact it has had as a charity across Wirral and North Wales. The Foundation has provided crucial partnership funding when we’ve needed it the most, including Steve Morgan Emergency Funding during the pandemic, support with staff wages, and our first food chiller van.” – Ema Wilkes, CEO and founder of Neo Community

Go to the Neo Community website