Everton defender Michael Keane recently swapped his football shirt for an apron at an Everton in the Community ‘Safe Hands’ session, seeing first-hand how the Club’s official charity helps young people reengage with education, develop key life skills and find their voice.
The Blues centre-back joined participants aged 12 to 16 at the charity’s Goodison campus, putting his baking skills to the test by making shortbread alongside Jai, a former Safe Hands participant who is now a participant with EitC.
Jai, an aspiring chef studying at culinary college, led the session with Michael, sharing his journey and showing how he has grown in confidence, taken on a leadership role and is working to turn his passion for cooking into a career – all with the support of the charity.
When Jai first became involved with Safe Hands two years ago, he had been out of school for an extended period. Living with autism, he found social situations overwhelming and everyday life challenging. Since then, he has achieved remarkable milestones – from visiting Parliament and speaking in front of 200 people, to securing work experience in a local restaurant – transforming his life with the help of Everton in the Community.
Everton stalwart Keane’s visit to Safe Hands concluded with a taste test of the freshly baked shortbreads before he took selfies and signed souvenirs for the young people. Reflecting on the session and Jai’s progress, he said:
“Everton in the Community has been supporting people of all ages across Liverpool for more than 35 years and today I’ve had the privilege of seeing that work first-hand.
“Meeting Jai has been inspiring – his story really shows what this charity can help young people achieve. He’s been on an incredible journey and now he’s thriving at culinary college. Programmes like Safe Hands give young people the chance to learn, grow and connect with others who understand their experiences.”
Jai expressed his gratitude to the charity, adding:
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Everton in the Community. They’ve been incredible and have genuinely changed my life for the better. Everything they’ve done for me has been amazing and I honestly couldn’t ask for more.
“When I first got involved, I never imagined I’d have the confidence to lead a cooking session like this or even go to culinary college. Now I’m doing both and I’m really proud of myself. The charity has set me up brilliantly for the future and I’m truly grateful for everything they’ve done.”
Safe Hands supports young people aged 10 to 16 who face challenges attending school, including those with neurodiverse needs, poor mental health, low social skills and low aspiration. The programme combines personalised guidance and small-group support with education and enrichment activities, helping participants stay socially engaged, build important life skills and regain confidence in learning.
Since its launch in June 2023, EitC has supported 55 young people through Safe Hands – with 24 successfully returning to education and 18 remaining actively engaged in the programme, now communicating and interacting in ways they previously could not.
Made possible thanks to the Premier League and PFA Players’ Fund, Safe Hands inspires young people to reintegrate into education and ensures they feel heard, valued and supported to reach their full potential.
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