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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.”

The Steve Morgan Foundation wins at the Charity Awards 2025

We are delighted to announce that the Steve Morgan Foundation has taken the top prize in the Grantmaking & Funding category at this year’s Charity Awards, the longest-running and most prestigious awards scheme in the charity sector.

The Foundation was recognised for our pioneering Cradle to Career programme in North Birkenhead, which delivers systematic and long-term change to improve outcomes for children and young people. The Foundation has so far committed £6.7 million of funding to implement a place-based change approach, where we brought together key organisations and people within the community to form a cross-sector partnership to provide practical and life-changing support.

Working alongside our partners Right to Succeed, SHINE, UBS Optimus Foundation and Wirral Council, Cradle to Career has significantly improved literacy standards among children; given families better access to support; and created new opportunities for young people.

You can read more about the impact Cradle to Career has had here.

Following its impact in North Birkenhead, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has now invested £5.25m to extend the programme into five more of the region’s most deprived areas. The Steve Morgan Foundation remains a primary catalyst, investor and champion.

Charity Awards judge André Clarke, director of charity development at Lloyds Bank Foundation, described the programme as a “spot-on example of taking a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach to investment in an area”. He noted that since the programme began, the district had changed from being the highest-need community in the Wirral since records began, to the fourth-highest, and had also gone from being the worst to the best-performing community in terms of take-up of early-years support.

The Steve Morgan Foundation was presented with the trophy alongside representatives from Right to Succeed and UBS at a black-tie ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 3 July, hosted by BBC News presenter Asad Ahmad.

Members of the Steve Morgan Foundation with two partners on stage with an awardSteve Morgan Foundation trophy from the Charity Awards 2025

Our CEO, Liam Eaglestone, commented:

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award in recognition of our funding of the impactful Cradle to Career programme. As a Foundation we are huge advocates of place-based change and this initiative is a clear demonstration of the positive results this approach can bring.

“Collaborative working is something we are passionate about – by working together we can effect lasting change within our communities and turn the table on social disadvantage. We are very much looking forward to supporting a wider rollout of the Cradle to Career programme.”

The Charity Awards shortlist is chosen by an independent panel of expert judges, themselves all eminent figures in the charity sector. The judges score each entry against six Hallmarks of Excellence before coming together for two days of challenge and discussion to select the winners.

Matt Nolan, chief executive of Civil Society Media which organises the Charity Awards, said:

“For quarter of a century, the Charity Awards has been highlighting and celebrating the vital work of UK charities, large and small, across the country. In 2025, the sector is facing almost unprecedented external challenges, yet the resilience, ambition and innovation in these applications continues to impress and inspire us.

“Huge congratulations to the Steve Morgan Foundation; its collaborative approach has had genuine impact for the people of Birkenhead, and they should be very proud to have won.” 

Watch the Cradle to Career video

Reflections from the Child Poverty Summit

The Steve Morgan Foundation was the headline sponsor of the Place Matters Collaborative Action Summit on Child Poverty on 24 June.

The event was an extremely thought-provoking and engaging day involving place-based leaders, funders, policy makers, practitioners and inspirational community members from across the globe. It was filled with energy, enthusiasm and excitement around the endless possibilities that can be achieved when people in places work together in partnership. 

As we embark on the delivery of our new five-year strategy, it is important for us to reflect on how we turn this rich learning into actionable insight that makes a long-term, tangible difference to the communities we serve.  

The key messages we took from the day were:  

Child poverty is a systemic issue

  • Poverty is not just a lack of money – it’s a systemic inequity, and ending child poverty is both a moral and strategic imperative. 

Place-based, community-led change is essential 

  • “Place” is the engine of change – where people live, grow, and connect and local communities must be at the heart of decision-making and implementation. 
  • Devolution and local community empowerment are key to sustainable solutions. 

Collaboration across sectors is crucial 

  • Government, philanthropy, organisations and communities need to work together, as joint strategies, shared investments, and co-created plans are more effective. 
  • Philanthropy can take risks and innovate, while government has the potential to scale and sustain. 

Listening, learning and adapting are integral 

  • Authentic listening, not just consultation, is essential, and transparency, humility, and proximity to lived experience are key. 

Data, measurement and accountability maintain momentum 

  • Ambitious goals drive action and data sharing enables targeted, joined-up and more effective services. 

Education is essential but not sufficient 

  • Schools are and must continue to be deeply rooted in communities and supported by broader services. Great schools alone cannot overcome the intersectional and intractable challenges of poverty. 

Balancing urgency and sustainable change is key 

  • Immediate action is needed alongside long-term, durable change. Communities want to act now and long delays erode trust and momentum. 

An awareness of all of the above for anyone wanting to support place-based, systems change is absolutely essential, but one of the many powerful quotes from the event was a stark reminder that “No child gets a second childhood” and that we must not allow momentum to fall into the notorious knowing-doing gap.  

As a foundation we are incredibly passionate about place-based change in our region and our ‘commitment to action’ from the day is already underway with a meeting scheduled with like-minded funders discussing future opportunities to collaboratively focus our respective resources in a place.  

Steve Morgan Foundation announces £100m funding pledge

The Steve Morgan Foundation has pledged to invest £100m over the next five years to tackle social disadvantage and fund internationally ground-breaking research into Type 1 Diabetes.

Founded in 2001 by entrepreneur and philanthropist, Steve Morgan CBE, the Foundation provides funding, support, expertise and best practice to not-for-profit organisations and has helped to improve the quality of life for millions of people.

As it approaches its 25th anniversary, the Foundation has set out a bold and ambitious new long-term strategy to invest in sustainable solutions that will change lives for good.

Steve Morgan CBE explains:

“This is a pivotal moment for the Foundation as we continue to drive proper impact across our region. We recognise that these are really tough times for so many communities who are facing poverty and a lack of meaningful opportunities. This is why we are significantly scaling up our support and pledging £20m each year for the next five years to support collaborative partnerships that tackle these issues head on.”

Liam Eaglestone, CEO at the Steve Morgan Foundation, added:

“We remain deeply committed to the region we’ve long supported – Merseyside, North Wales, West Cheshire, and North Shropshire. By combining our financial resources with the expertise of our partners we are determined to break the cycle of social disadvantage, creating long lasting impact across our region.”

Building on the success of strategic partnerships to date, the Foundation will deliver large-scale, long-term investments to improve outcomes in education, employment, and ensuring access to provision for those that need it the most, using learnings from previous projects to deliver an even greater impact.

A true Steve Morgan Foundation success story is the multi-partner Cradle 2 Career (C2C) programme, which has been hailed ‘a potential blueprint for transforming outcomes in left behind communities.’ In North Birkenhead, it has brought together communities and services to improve literacy standards and transform the lives of children and young people. Following its success, C2C is being scaled up across five other communities in the Liverpool City Region.

Another shining example of clear strategic impact is the Foundation’s backing of Maggie’s Centres’ expansion. The Foundation enabled Maggie’s to bring its vital cancer support services to Merseyside by commissioning, building and funding a brand-new centre in the Wirral. The Foundation is currently building a Maggie’s centre in North Wales that will open later this year and is committed to building a further one in Liverpool.  

And in a landmark act of philanthropic giving, the Steve Morgan Foundation committed £50 million in 2022 to the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge – a research initiative that brings together Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D UK and aims to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. The Grand Challenge is funding the most promising projects to fast-track discoveries that will lead to life-changing new treatments.

Sally Morgan, Steve Morgan Foundation trustee, explains:

“We are incredibly proud to continue supporting the pioneering work of the T1D Grand Challenge – the UK’s first Type 1 Diabetes Virtual Research Institute. As with all our other partnerships, this is a cause that is close to our hearts. It is fantastic to see research projects funded by the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge up and running across the UK and beyond, each taking us closer to new treatments and cures for Type 1 Diabetes.”

Steve Morgan CBE adds:  

“I am proud and humbled at what we have achieved through the Foundation over the past 25 years, but now is the time for meaningful change and a new strategic direction. We are committed to ensuring that the Steve Morgan Foundation delivers powerful and lasting change, starting now, investing £20m every year for the next five years.”

Steve Morgan Foundation shortlisted for the Charity Awards 2025

The Steve Morgan Foundation is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted in the Grantmaking and Funding category for our work on the hugely impactful Cradle to Career programme.

Cradle to Career was initiated in 2019 to bring together the local authority and third-sector organisations to deliver systematic and long-term change for children and young people in North Birkenhead, one of the most deprived areas in the Liverpool City Region.

The Charity Awards is the sector’s most highly-regarded excellence recognition scheme and is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary. All 30 shortlisted charities this year have been judged by an independent panel of sector leaders as having demonstrated best practice in leadership and management, from which other organisations can learn.  

The 10 category winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner on Thursday 3 July, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The evening will be hosted by BBC news presenter Asad Ahmad, who will be joined on the night by a host of celebrities, representatives of the shortlisted charities, as well as leaders from Britain’s best known and best loved charities.

Of the shortlist, Liam Eaglestone, CEO at Steve Morgan Foundation, said: “I am thrilled that the Steve Morgan Foundation has been recognised for its work on the Cradle to Career programme.

The difference that this programme has made in the community, by the people in the community, the partners and the professionals is remarkable and is being recognised nationally as an example to follow.

Matthew Nolan, chief executive of Civil Society Media which organises the Charity Awards, congratulated Steve Morgan Foundation on making the highly-coveted shortlist. He said:For a quarter of a century now, the Charity Awards has been showcasing and celebrating the terrific work of UK charities large and small.

We offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the charities on this year’s shortlist; we know that times are tough and you should all be very proud of getting this far. We wish the Steve Morgan Foundation the best of luck on the night.”

The team is looking forward to attending the awards this July and meeting up with friends and peers in the not-for-profit sector. Keep an eye out on our socials to see our time at the event.

Take a look at the full shortlist and find out more about the awards on the Charity Awards 2025 website here. 

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!”  

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