BEST FOOTBALL COMMUNITY SCHEME – PREMIER LEAGUE 2019
Albion in the Community
Abion in the Community is one of the leading football charities in the UK, with a reputation for delivering pioneering, innovative and impactful programmes across the south coast.
Working in some of the most economically and health deprived coastal communities in the UK, the charity makes a genuine and lasting difference to the lives of tens of thousands of local people.
A recent independent social and economic study found Albion in the Community creates an annual social impact valued in excess of £28million, all from an income of just £3.2million. Put simply, for every £1 of income, the charity creates £8.84 of positive impact for local people.
It is a record which everyone connected with Brighton & Hove Albion is incredibly proud – including the club’s supporters. In the most-recent Premier League Fan Matchday Survey, the charity’s work again led the way in how fans of Premier League clubs viewed their community schemes.
The survey found 95% of Albion supporters felt the club made a significant contribution to the local community (compared to a Premier League average of 77%), with 94% feeling that the work was an important part of the culture and philosophy of Brighton & Hove Albion.
Everton in the Community
Everton in the Community is one of the UK’s top sporting charities and firmly established on the world stage of community sports development.
As the official charity of Everton Football Club, it is considered one of the Premier League’s leading community schemes due to the quality and reach of its programmes.
Recently awarded ‘Freedom of the City of Liverpool’ in recognition of its contribution to changing and saving lives across Merseyside, Everton in the Community (EitC) has been at the forefront of social intervention across the Liverpool City Region since 1988; tackling social issues prevalent across the city and addressing them head on.
Everton Football Club resides in the Kirkdale ward of Liverpool, which is in the most deprived 5% of neighbourhoods nationally. More than half of the children in the area live in poverty while the area in general faces challenges such as high unemployment, crime and health, housing and education problems.
EitC delivers more than 40 programmes a year, specifically designed and developed to combat these challenges which are prevalent across Merseyside. Its social programmes tackle issues such as mental health, employability, dementia, education, disability, poverty and homelessness.
Leicester City in the Community
Leicester City in the Community (LCitC) is an independent, registered charity governed by a board of Trustees, however we do not work alone. We are a central part of the Leicester City Football Club (LCFC) family, working closely with the Club, with Supporter Engagement and the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation (VSF) .
Despite recent success enhancing the brand recognition and reputation on a global scale, LCFC remains a club proudly rooted in the local community.
Experiencing significant change; including the recruitment of new Head of Community who took up post in October 2017, Leicester City in the Community set out to achieve:
- The publication, following extensive consultation, of a new strategy and business plan
- A new way of working; new themes, new partners, new focus, new strategy
- Initial implementation of strategy and business plan
- Work towards becoming an indispensable partner to Leicester City Football Club
During 2018/19, we have worked tirelessly with all those that contribute to our charity; our staff, participants, Club staff, local and national partners and funders, and Trustees to develop a simple, but fit-for-purpose strategy and business plan that will help shape our work over the next 4-years.
Newcastle United Foundation
Newcastle United Foundation was established to harness football’s power to deliver positive change in our area Since 2008 the commitment, dedication and enthusiasm of our staff and stakeholders has seen the Foundation become a pillar of the community, working with over 50,000 disadvantaged young people and families across Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland and North Tyneside
We work in some of the most deprived areas in the North East and our key objective is to use football as a means of engaging people in projects and activities that can help raise their aspirations and support positive change in their lives. We need to raise around £2 million each year to do this.
We’re proud that 92p of every £1 that is raised by the Foundation is reinvested in charitable activity The importance of nurturing the relationships we establish with stakeholders is vital to our success.
In 2018 the Foundation is 10 year’s old, having raised over £13 million to support programme delivery and engagement in our region. We have also have planning permission approved for a purpose built community, education and health and wellbeing hub to be constructed in the heart of the city which will help us reach even move people.
Saints Foundation, Charity of Southampton Football Club
Saints Foundation is the charity of Southampton Football Club – we are the club’s way of giving back.
Using the power and passion of the club, we help to transform lives in and around Southampton, helping people fulfil their potential to be more involved, healthier and empowered members of the community.
During 2018, we engaged over 19,000 people through our many programmes, and in so doing, inspired individuals of all abilities, aged 2 to 103.
Working with key stakeholders and partners, we use a wide range of methodology to measure our impact and inform future developments, with all projects and interventions based on the needs of the individuals with whom we engage, as well as those of the wider local community.
We have supported many people to make positive and sustainable changes across the last few years, with one participant of our Saints4Sport project commenting: “It’s changed our life, and our kid’s lives. The support they [Saints Foundation] give, it’s what we needed to make the change. I couldn’t have done it without these lot, they changed my life.
West Ham United Foundation
As the club’s official charity arm, the West Ham United Foundation is a focal point of the club’s community commitments. With over 35 initiatives being delivered seven days a week across east London, Essex and globally, and new projects regularly being developed, the Foundation continues to grow from strength to strength.
Providing unique projects in community, health, education, and employability, the Foundation harnesses the power of football and the West Ham United brand to inspire, empower and educate local communities. These projects are specifically targeted to cater for the needs of the localities in which they operate. Given this approach, and since their work is so vast and diverse, the Foundation is rightly regarded as one of the most forward-thinking in the country.
The past year has been one of the strongest for the West Ham United Foundation, in which staff have united and worked tirelessly to help and inspire those in the local community. Community is in West Ham United’s DNA and as the Foundation’s 30th anniversary approaches in 2020 they’ve shown time and time again how lives can be changed through the power of sport.
