SMF announces UBS Optimus Foundation as a strategic partner

The Steve Morgan Foundation and UBS Optimus Foundation have launched a strategic partnership to boost regional impact.

We are proud to announce a new strategic partnership with UBS Optimus Foundation, a grant-making charitable foundation founded by UBS. This formal collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship and a shared commitment to tackling social disadvantage.

By working together, we have already helped bring more than £1.3 million of additional support for organisations addressing root issues in our region, thanks to match funding provided by UBS to charities in the UBS Optimus Foundation UK Education Portfolio.

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

“We’re thrilled to formalise our partnership with UBS Optimus Foundation. Together, we’ve already amplified the impact of key programmes like Cradle to Career (Right to Succeed), IntoUniversity, and OnSide. This joint approach is helping our funding go further and driving lasting change for children, young people, and families across the region.”

Over the next six years, UBS Optimus Foundation will deepen involvement in the region, working with SMF to accelerate progress in education, improve access to services, and increase employment opportunities in the region.

Sarah Payne UK Head of Social Impact & Philanthropy at UBS said:

“We’re proud to become a strategic partner of the Steve Morgan Foundation. They play a vital role in enabling effective collaboration in their region and ensuring that local communities have a strong voice in shaping the solutions needed. The UBS Optimus Foundation is committed to supporting this kind of philanthropy to help drive lasting impact.”

UBS Optimus Foundation in the UK looks to partner with organisations focused on early intervention and long-term impact, particularly within the areas of education, mental health, climate, and health. It joins SMF’s existing strategic partners Maggie’s, Liverpool FC Foundation, Everton in the Community, Right to Succeed, Diabetes UK, Breakthrough T1D and Onside.

Steve Morgan Foundation launches partnership with Crewe Alexandra in the Community

The Steve Morgan Foundation has launched a three-year partnership with Crewe Alexandra in the Community to support its community-based programmes supporting young people at risk of exclusion, and vulnerable adults facing housing and health issues.

Our £250,000 investment will enable Crewe Alexandra in the Community to scale up its successful pilot projects that support young people and adults. Both projects had faced imminent closure due to funding uncertainties, but the Foundation’s investment will ensure this vital community work can survive and thrive for years to come.

The partnership builds on the Steve Morgan Foundation’s long-term support for Everton in the Community, Liverpool FC Foundation and Wrexham AFC Foundation.

Steve Morgan said:

“Both the club and the community have had a really difficult time in recent years, but we know that football can play an important role in engaging people and getting them back on the right path.

“That’s why the Steve Morgan Foundation has invested in the community work at LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community, Wrexham AFC Foundation and now Crewe Alexandra in the Community, enabling them to supercharge their programmes and change people’s lives for good.”

With the Foundation’s backing, Crewe Alexandra in the Community aims to improve education, health outcomes, employment opportunities and people’s connection to the Crewe community.

Crewe Alexandra Chairman Charles Grant said:

“Part of the work of Crewe Alexandra in the Community aims to tackle the root issues of social disadvantage, support underprivileged people, and help them to fulfil their potential.

“Having the support of the Steve Morgan Foundation will be a game-changer for us. This generous grant will enable us to continue – and expand – our efforts to deliver programmes and projects which make a real difference to our community. We are very grateful and look forward to working even more closely with the Steve Morgan Foundation in the future.”

Found out more about the work of Crewe Alexandra in the Community here.

Research funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation uncovers why type 1 diabetes is more aggressive in young children

Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects young children, paving the way for new strategies to prevent or delay T1D and, in time, contribute to a cure.

The study was funded through our £50m Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, a unique partnership between ourselves, Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D.

In this groundbreaking research, published in Science Advances, ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14, Dr Sarah Richardson and her team discovered that T1D can be more aggressive in young children, because of the size of the clusters of insulin-producing cells at the point of diagnosis.

These insights pave the way for new, targeted treatments designed specifically for young children who are living with T1D, or at risk of developing the condition.

Gareth and Joanne Nye’s daughter, Gracie, from Merseyside, was diagnosed with T1D at just 23 months old. Gareth said:

“Gracie’s diagnosis was traumatic for our whole family. In less than 48 hours she went from being a toddler with what we thought was a slight cold, to lying unconscious in a hospital bed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), close to death. We lived in constant fear, setting alarms every two hours to finger prick her at night, worrying if she’d still be with us in the morning.

“Research like this, and the possibilities it holds, will be vital in reducing the number of children diagnosed in critical care, like Gracie. It gives us confidence that one day she could be free from her condition – and that fewer parents and children will have to go through this same experience.”

Steve Morgan said: “We created the Grand Challenge partnership to super-charge research into new treatments and a cure for T1D. We know firsthand that a T1D diagnosis is life changing for a child and their family. We hope this breakthrough research makes a positive difference for many people in the future.”

Find out more

Read the full story on the Grand Challenge website
here, and hear below from one of the researchers behind this important breakthrough:

Brand new diabetes resource from Together Type 1

The dynamic, peer support and empowerment programme Together Type 1 – an initiative developed by Diabetes UK and funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation – has launched a new resource to support children and young people with type 1 diabetes in school.

‘My Type 1 Info’ is a personalised card containing information school staff may need to know about their diabetes – the tech being used, hypo treatments and so on. It folds down to the size of a credit card which is perfect for pupils to carry with them in their pocket, school bag, pencil case, or diabetes kit bag.

My Type 1 Info was developed by Lilly (Together Type 1 Youth Worker in the Midlands and East region) and Amelia (Together Type 1 Young Leader).

Amelia said: “We hope this resource will help school staff to really understand type 1 diabetes and how their pupils manage their condition.

“I know from meeting people at Together Type 1 events how tricky it can be to deal with diabetes in school sometimes. Having to explain to everyone why you need your phone on your desk, or why a device is beeping, can be embarrassing. I know some young people skip taking their insulin in school because they find it awkward. Having support from informed teachers and other staff can make all the difference.

“I really hope My Type 1 Info will help to reduce pupils’ anxiety around talking to new teachers about their diabetes. It can be filled out to explain what tech you are using, whether you are injecting insulin or using a pump, how to treat hypos and other aspects of staying on top of diabetes. There are also answers to common questions and facts about type 1 that teachers might not know.”

For further information or to request a My Type 1 Info card, please email type1youth@diabetes.org.uk.

£5.65m funding to supercharge Cradle to Career

The Steve Morgan Foundation has awarded further multi-million pound grant funding to the Liverpool City Region’s Cradle to Career partnership, enabling thousands of children, young people and families to change their lives for good.

Cradle to Career is an award-winning, ambitious cross-sector collaboration initiated in 2019 by the Steve Morgan Foundation and led by Right to Succeed. Starting out in North Birkenhead, the programme has united the worlds of philanthropy, charity and public services to provide practical and life-changing support.

Our new long-term funding commitment will see us provide a further £5.65m over the next six years to tackle the root issues of social disadvantage that negatively impact the life chances of children, young people and families.

Steve Morgan CBE, founder and chairman of the Steve Morgan Foundation said:

“We’re very proud of Cradle to Career, it has had a brilliant impact so far, improving children’s reading, reducing social care admissions, and increasing employment opportunities.”

Graeme Duncan, Chief Executive at Right to Succeed said:

“We are so grateful to the Steve Morgan Foundation for the instigation and incredible support of Liverpool City Region Cradle to Career. It is an honour for us as a charity to be able to serve these amazing communities and we can’t wait to see what more they can achieve.”

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region added:

“Cradle to Career is a fantastic example of what we can achieve when local people, partners, and funders come together behind a shared ambition to give every child the best possible start in life. It’s helping to break down barriers, raise aspirations, and build stronger, fairer communities across our region.”

The success of the Cradle to Career partnership to date has also been based on ongoing financial support from SHINE, UBS Optimus Foundation, LCRCA and the National Lottery Community Fund.

Steve Morgan Foundation kicks off partnership with Wrexham AFC Foundation

The Steve Morgan Foundation has announced a three-year partnership with Wrexham AFC Foundation to scale up its community-based programmes that tackle anti-social behaviour, increase employment prospects, and improve declining youth facilities.

We are investing £300,000 in Wrexham AFC Foundation over the next three years, so it can expand its Street Dragons and Young Leaders programmes, invest in community pitch regeneration, and create safer spaces for young people to thrive.

The partnership builds on our long-term strategic support for both Everton in the Community and the Liverpool FC Foundation.

“We know things are really tough right now for a lot of people and communities across our region.” Steve Morgan explains.

“That’s why the Steve Morgan Foundation is backing organisations that make a real, lasting difference. We understand first-hand the positive influence of football in engaging young people and we are proud to be working with the ambitious and committed team at Wrexham AFC Foundation to help change lives for the better.”

With our backing, Wrexham AFC Foundation aims to build a generation equipped with life, leadership, and teamwork skills through the provision of regular ‘Street Dragons’ football and sports sessions to reduce anti-social behaviour, delivering its youth leadership programme to improve wellbeing and boost confidence, and revitalising community spaces to turn derelict pitches into safe, active hubs.

Jamie Edwards, Head of Wrexham AFC Foundation, comments:

“At Wrexham AFC Foundation we are determined that the team’s ongoing success is mirrored by our positive impact within the community and having the support of the Steve Morgan Foundation will be an absolute game-changer for us. We are fully aligned to the Steve Morgan Foundation’s unwavering focus on tackling the root issues of social disadvantage and this grant will enable us to provide long-term investment in people, pitches and partnerships in our town, and beyond.”

Watch Steve Morgan’s pitchside interview here:

SMF joins forces with Whizz Kidz to provide wheelchairs to young people

We are delighted to announce our newly-formed partnership with Whizz Kidz. We are providing £750k of funding over the next 3 years, to support the provision of wheelchairs for children and young people across our region.

Whizz Kidz is the UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users. They provide personalised and bespoke wheelchairs for children from 18 months to 18 years. With financial support from the Foundation, this age range will be extended to 25 years, helping more disabled young people unlock their potential.

Whizz Kidz has recently launched its ‘Childhood Can’t Wait!’ campaign – an urgent appeal to reopen its waitlist. For the first time in its history, the charity has been forced to close the list due to unprecedented demand for wheelchairs. As a result, over 1,000 children are currently waiting for the essential mobility equipment they need.

Funding from the Steve Morgan Foundation will enable the waitlist to reopen in the areas we support, giving children who are waiting for wheelchairs the chance to reclaim their independence and the childhoods they deserve.

Our Trustee and Chairman, Steve Morgan, says:

“We have been in talks with the Whizz Kidz team for several months and we are delighted to see this partnership now get going. We support the work of Whizz Kidz because they deliver the right wheelchairs to the young people who need them most. We are excited to see hundreds of young people in our region get their new wheels over the next few years.”

Sarah Pugh, CEO at Whizz Kidz said:

“Childhood can’t wait. Every day a young person spends without the right wheelchair is a day of lost opportunities, missed experiences, and independence put on hold. Thanks to the support of the Steve Morgan Foundation, more young people will get the chance to play, learn, and grow with the freedom they deserve. Together, we are making sure they don’t have to put their lives on pause.”

For further information about Whizz Kidz, please click here.

Steve Morgan opens new cancer support centre in North Wales

We are thrilled to have opened our new Maggie’s Centre in North Wales, ready to welcome and support people living with cancer.

Maggie’s North Wales at the Steve Morgan Foundation Building, built in the grounds of Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, has been completely commissioned, designed and funded by the Foundation following our £4 million investment. The new centre will support the whole North Wales area which sees 4800 people newly diagnosed with cancer every year.

The North Wales centre is the second of three Maggie’s Centres to be fully funded by the Foundation; Maggie’s Wirral officially opened in the grounds of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in September 2021 and our third centre in Liverpool has recently received planning permission to be built within the grounds of the New Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Steve Morgan said:

“It’s wonderful to have this new Maggie’s centre open, ensuring the people of North Wales have easy access to vital cancer support and we are pleased to be able to make that happen.

Our partnership with Maggie’s is a prime example of how we can harness our expertise and practical support to maximise the impact of our financial support.

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

“We are delighted our new centre in Denbighshire is open and that we are now able to support people living with cancer, including family and friends, from across North Wales.

It’s thanks to the generosity of the Steve Morgan Foundation and their commitment to Maggie’s, that we have been able to bring our service to this region.”

Find out more about Maggie’s North Wales and how you can support the centre here.

Maggie’s cancer support centre in Liverpool to be built with £5 million from the Steve Morgan Foundation

Planning permission has been granted for our new Maggie’s cancer support centre in Liverpool. Commissioned, designed and funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation, the centre is the first project confirmed on the site of the old Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We provided £5 million in funding and worked with HB Architects to design the centre, which will provide free practical, psychological and emotional support for people with cancer, as well as their family and friends, from across Merseyside.

We have already commissioned, designed, built and funded Maggie’s in Wirral which opened in September 2021, and Maggie’s North Wales which will open in September 2025.

Out of the 2.8 million people in Cheshire and Merseyside about 17,000 people are newly diagnosed with cancer every year– both figures are higher than the England average.

Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s said: “The Steve Morgan Foundation’s incredibly generous support in commissioning, designing, funding and building has fast tracked our ability to bring Maggie’s to Liverpool and for that I am so grateful. The Steve Morgan Foundation’s commitment to building three new Maggie’s centres – including the one in Liverpool – is a truly phenomenal act of philanthropy.”

Steve Morgan said: “We are delighted to have received planning approval for our third Maggie’s centre in the region. Our partnership with Maggie’s highlights the power of collaboration and the Foundation’s ability to ‘give well’ by harnessing our expertise, practical support and commercial experience to maximise the impact of our financial support.”

Maggie’s has nearly 30 years’ experience of supporting people with free cancer support and information in centres across the UK. The charity puts people with cancer at the heart of everything they do and believes that everyone should have access to professional psychological and emotional support to help change the way they live with cancer.

Read the full story and find out more about Maggie’s here.

Regional grant awarded to Liverpool School Sports Partnership

£208,000 awarded to Liverpool School Sports Partnership (LSSP) as it celebrates 25^th anniversary.

Our regional grant marks the start of its mission to offer a net-zero cost service to affiliated schools in Liverpool.

LSSP is a not-for-profit organisation that works with schools in Liverpool to enhance and develop sporting and wellbeing initiatives for children and young people. This one-year grant will support its ongoing work to ensure school sport is accessible for all.

With many schools citing the ever-increasing costs associated with sport as a major barrier for participation, LSSP will use our grant to offer its Enhanced Membership Package to schools at a significantly reduced rate, which is expected to save schools currently in its network a combined total of over a quarter of a million pounds, whilst continuing to create equal opportunities for all young people to take part in a variety of high-quality sport and wellbeing intervention programmes.

Ruth Dixon, our Regional Grants Manager, said: “The work LSSP completes across Liverpool is vital. Having been out to see its team in action, we’ve witnessed the incredible role its coaches and staff have in making a positive impact on children and young people’s health and wellbeing. We are delighted to support such a worthwhile organisation and are excited to follow its journey.”

A proportion of the grant will also be used to hire a new member of staff who will deliver its 12-week intervention programme, ‘I AM’, into secondary schools to equip students with practical coping strategies designed to build resilience, improve emotional regulation, and reduce negative behaviours that affect learning and wellbeing.

Joint CEO at LSSP, Jimmy McGinn, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this grant and on behalf of everyone at LSSP, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the team at the Steve Morgan Foundation. The money will profoundly impact the lives of all young people across Liverpool.”

Steve Morgan receives honorary degree

Our Founder and Chairman, Steve Morgan CBE, has received an honorary degree from the University of Liverpool.

Steve accepted the conferment of the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) at a ceremony held on 18 July 2025 at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall during graduation week where 7,500 people graduated.

University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said:

“I am delighted to celebrate and welcome our honorary graduates into the University of Liverpool community – individuals whose remarkable achievements and meaningful connections to the University serve as a source of inspiration for us all.

“As students and their families gather to honour years of hard work and commitment, our honorary graduates not only receive formal recognition for their contributions but also share their journeys, offering wisdom, encouragement, and invaluable insights. These stories help guide our graduands as they prepare to take their next steps, reminding them of the many paths to success and the impact they, too, can make in the world.”

Upon receiving the award, Steve Morgan said:

“I am delighted and truly humbled to receive an honorary Doctorate from the University of Liverpool and be recognised for the philanthropic work of the Foundation.

“Having grown up in Liverpool and witnessing the challenges the region has, and is facing, improving education outcomes for our young people has always been one of our aims. Being connected to the University in this way is a real privilege and I look forward to continuing our support in this area.”

SMF backs the expansion of Housing First to tackle homelessness

The Steve Morgan Foundation has partnered with the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) by providing £80,000 to support their policy work on Housing First to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in England. Together we have launched a report which sets out a fully costed proposal to expand the Housing First approach nationally following proven results from the pilots.

Homelessness and rough sleeping are on the rise in England

In 2024, rough sleeping was up 20 per cent on the previous year, and 91 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic. The years following the success of ‘Everyone In’ have been marked by rising homelessness, increasingly visible on the streets of England’s cities and towns. Rough sleeping is just the tip of the iceberg. Last year, English councils spent £2.3 billion on temporary accommodation, a crisis that is pushing local authorities to the point of bankruptcy.

Over the last seven years, Housing First has been shown to be the most effective and well-evidenced intervention to end homelessness for Britain’s most disadvantaged and entrenched rough sleepers. Without a commitment to rolling it out further, the government will struggle to meet its manifesto commitment by the end of the Parliament.

No Place Like Home

In this report, made possible by the Foundation, we make the case for a targeted expansion of Housing First in England, to deliver 5,571 places by 2029/30. This would scale-out the success of the three national pilots in Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands, ensuring that every English region has access to an equivalent Housing First intervention.

Alongside a cross-government strategy that is focused on prevention, a national Housing First programme will respond to the most severe consequences of homelessness, by targeting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged cohort.

Read the No Place Like Home report here

Steve Morgan CBE said:

“Housing First begins with a simple but powerful principle: a permanent home. From that solid foundation, people can access the tailored, wraparound support they need to address deep-rooted challenges. It’s an approach rooted in common sense, recognising that no one can rebuild their life whilst trapped in an endless cycle of homelessness, emergency accommodation, and crisis services.

“And it works. In my home city of Liverpool, Housing First has been incubated and refined through one of three national pilots.”