Everton in the Community has celebrated a double award win at the Northwest Football Awards, recognising its outstanding contribution to communities across Merseyside.
The official charity of Everton Football Club picked up two prestigious honours at the 19th Worldwide Shipping Solutions Northwest Football Awards, held in Manchester on Monday 2 November.
Everton in the Community was named Premier League Community Club of the Season for the fourth time in five years, while its Safe Hands programme secured the Premier League Community Initiative of the Year award.
The double success follows another remarkable year for the charity, which supported more than 46,000 people through its programmes during the 2025/26 season.
Established in 1988, Everton in the Community works to break down barriers and tackle social inequality, delivering more than 50 evidence-based, inclusive programmes to support vulnerable and underrepresented people across the region.
Safe Hands programme recognised for supporting young people
Among the charity’s standout initiatives is Safe Hands, which provides specialist support for children and young people aged 10 to 19 who face challenges engaging with mainstream education.
The programme supports young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), neurodiversity, emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) and other complex needs.
Through personalised support plans, one-to-one guidance and targeted small-group sessions, Safe Hands helps participants overcome barriers to learning and build confidence in their future.
Launched in 2023, the initiative was developed in response to growing challenges facing children and young people across Merseyside, including increasing demand for SEND support and limited access to suitable educational provision.
Merseyside has some of the highest numbers of children with SEND nationally, with seven of the UK’s 20 constituencies recording the highest levels of identified SEND located in the county.
Funded by the Premier League and supported by the Professional Footballers’ Association, Safe Hands aims to help young people successfully reintegrate into education where appropriate or progress into further education, training and employment.
Everton in the Community celebrates another successful year
The Northwest Football Awards recognise excellence both on and off the pitch, celebrating footballing achievements alongside community impact, inclusivity and outstanding contributions to the game.
Everton in the Community’s latest honours highlight the charity’s continued commitment to creating opportunities and improving lives throughout Merseyside.
Sue Gregory, CEO of Everton in the Community, said:
“Both awards are a testament to the unifying power of football to build stronger communities and create brighter futures.
“They recognise the incredible work taking place across Everton in the Community every day, from supporting young people to overcome barriers to education through Safe Hands, to reaching more than 46,000 people through our wider programmes.
“None of this would be possible without the unwavering dedication of our brilliant staff, volunteers, participants, partners, donors and supporters. Thank you.”
The double award win further strengthens Everton in the Community’s reputation for using football as a force for positive change, helping people overcome challenges and access opportunities across Liverpool and the wider region.
To discover more about the charity’s work and its impact during the 2025/26 season, visit the Everton in the Community Impact Report.
