Everton in the Community generates £64 million for local people, making last year its most impactful to date.
Everton Football Club’s official charity, recorded an £8.7 million increase in social value during the 2021/2022 season, according to an independent report by socio-economic specialists RealWorth.
Findings from the study found that the organisation generated £29.86 of social value for every £1 invested through its ground-breaking work in the last 12 months, an impressive 102% increase since 2019.
Societal value is the calculation of benefits created by an organisation as part of their everyday output. The figures are based on an accepted national formula and not only take into account the value for money created by Everton in the Community, but also the wider benefit to society through the direct impact on people’s lives, the economy and the environment.
Everton in the Community delivers more than 50 programmes across the Liverpool City Region and beyond, including Blue Family, set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and combating the impact that lockdowns had on social isolation and financial stability.
The award-winning Blue Family initiative – which launched in March 2020 – provided vital aid and assistance to more than 31,000 families and individuals during the pandemic, including those living in some of the most deprived areas in the country.
Blue Family saw a staggering £128.09 of social value generated for each £1 invested in the charity by the Club, fans, partners and various stakeholder groups, highlighting the need for crisis support for vulnerable families and individuals – support that continued long after the pandemic.
Sue Gregory, Everton in the Community Chief Executive, said:
“We pride ourselves on being a charity that is there for its local community and this evaluation highlights how essential our programmes and support is for those most in need across the Liverpool City Region.
“With the help and support of key funders, partners and stakeholders we have significantly developed our offering and we believe that is why our social value has more than doubled in the last 12 months.
“The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus the inequalities that communities in Liverpool face and these inequalities are widening quickly due to the cost-of-living crisis and more people finding themselves living in poverty.
“When we see a need, we act and do whatever we can to support those who need our help and, as this report highlights, our programmes lead to positive change in our participants and within our local community.”
Within Everton in the Community’s 50+ programmes, other major projects to launch during the last year include the Blue Base Pantry, offering vulnerable people access to food; the SCORE programme, providing employment support and recruitment into jobs and apprenticeships in the health and social care sector for 16 to 30-year-olds; and a dedicated falls prevention programme for older residents living in Knowsley.
Meanwhile, Everton in the Community continues to be recognised nationally as the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service sits alongside its honours at events such as the Football Business Awards, Liverpool Chamber Awards and Corporate Engagement Awards.
Recognition has also come from politicians with visits from both Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet Ministers.
Notably Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Alison McGovern, Shadow Minister for Employment and MP for Wirral South, who were left ‘hugely impressed’ after touring Everton in the Community and its campus in Liverpool 4.
For almost 35 years, Everton in the Community has provided life-changing opportunities to vulnerable and underprivileged people living in Liverpool and beyond, supporting them with a wide range of social issues that are prevalent on the streets of Merseyside.
Sue added:
“Whilst we are extremely proud of this growth in return-on-investment and what it represents, we refuse to rest on our laurels and are committed to increasing our reach and helping as many people as possible.
“Work continues behind-the-scenes to build and develop new infrastructure on the Goodison Campus such as our recently opened digital skills lab and a purpose-built mental health hub, The People’s Place – which is due to open in early 2023 – which will bring a range of services and unique opportunities into the local community.”
For more information about the work of Everton in the Community visit www.evertoninthecommunity.org
