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A group of children playing outside with toy cars at the Equilibrium Center as part of Cradle to Career

Cradle to Career

“We are grateful to the Steve Morgan Foundation for their commitment to improving the lives of children and young people in the North West. Their vision for and investment in innovative programmes like Cradle to Career has led to the beginnings of real change in how communities work together for children 
and young people.

We are proud to partner with Steve Morgan Foundation who show such commitment to working differently and taking a risk where others might not to improve the lives of children and young people. We believe that this is what sets them apart.”

Janice Bluett-Duncan

Programme Manager at Cradle to Career

Funding committed to date: £4.9 million

Disadvantage and inequality have long been consistent themes for children and young people living in North Birkenhead, one of Liverpool City Region’s most deprived areas.

In 2019 and recognising this desperate need to improve outcomes for children and young people in North Birkenhead, the Steve Morgan Foundation initiated Cradle to Career – an ambitious cross-sector partnership on a remarkable scale.

Through Cradle to Career, the Foundation has united the worlds of philanthropy, charity and public services to provide practical and life-changing support.

We have committed generous financial support since 2019, and we remain a primary catalyst, investor and champion, working alongside our partners SHINE, an education charity and grant giver, and lead delivery partner Right to Succeed, a charity specialising in place-based change approaches.

As with all our philanthropy at the Steve Morgan Foundation, the guiding principle for Cradle to Career is collaborative working. Cradle to Career brings together Wirral Council, schools, services, professionals and residents under one vision: ‘Every Child in North Birkenhead thrives, from Cradle to Career’.

Importantly, it also places local people at the heart of education, services and local decision-making.

We now have 40 partner organisations, and 17 dedicated professionals in the community-based support team all working together to provide support to almost 9,000 residents in North Birkenhead. The programme has seen outstanding results including:

  • Pupils gaining 11 months above expected reading progress
  • 50% increase in children achieving the highest reading ability
  • 26% decrease in children with the highest reading support needs
  • Social care step-down rates and re-referral rates have improved
  • North Birkenhead is no longer the highest referring ward to social care.

Our success in North Birkenhead means that we are now rolling out Cradle to Career in five other left-behind communities in the Liverpool City Region in partnership with the LCR Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, ensuring we can change many more young lives for good.

Visit the website here: https://www.cradle2career.org.uk/north-birkenhead/

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