Everton in the Community has announced that Everton first team stars James Tarkowski and Courtney Brosnan and former Blues player Leon Osman have joined forces with Everton in the Community and the Steve Morgan Foundation to become official Ambassadors of its strategic partnership.
The charitable arm of Everton Football Club has been working with the Steve Morgan Foundation since 2020, delivering the ‘Steve Morgan Community Impact Model’ in Speke-Garston to protect young people from exploitation and inspire them to reach their full potential. In July 2023, the charity secured additional funding to extend the Impact Model to Liverpool 4 and South Sefton – with both communities also facing a number of socio-economic challenges that severely hinder educational achievements. The trio of new ambassadors will work to support this delivery and visit sessions during the course of the season.
Made possible thanks to the funding received from Steve Morgan Foundation, Everton in the Community’s delivery of the Impact Model has significantly enhanced the lives of more than 13,500 young people in Speke-Garston and contributed to wider school and community changes, including improved literary scores and declining anti-social behaviour trends in an area where 40% of young people aged 16+ have no qualifications and 40% of children live in poverty. The new funding for Liverpool 4 and South Sefton has seen the charity commence targeted interventions in identified high schools and primary schools, with the aim of replicating the positive impact achieved in Speke-Garston.
As EitC and Steve Morgan Foundation Ambassadors, Tarkowski, Brosnan and Osman will help raise awareness of the Impact Model and the remarkable impact it has had on South Liverpool, L4 and South Sefton. Their role will also see them visit Steve Morgan Foundation-funded sessions and witness the beneficial effects that the charity’s delivery has had on the lives of thousands of young people across Liverpool City Region.
Toffees defender Tarkowski commented:
“It’s always a pleasure to support Everton in the Community’s work, and I’ve seen first-hand the impact of their delivery of the Steve Morgan Community Impact Model in raising children’s self-esteem when I visited a local secondary school last year. It’s a fantastic programme that’s truly making a positive difference to the lives of many young people across Liverpool and it’s an honour to endorse it.”
Everton Women goalkeeper Brosnan added:
“I’ve had the privilege of attending a number of the charity’s sessions over the years and meeting the participants who benefit from its work. It’s clear to see that the Steve Morgan Community Impact Model has been instrumental in tackling the many barriers facing young people within the local community, so it’s a great opportunity to be able to support the programme and I look forward to visiting one of the sessions.”
Former Blues stalwart Leon Osman said:
“I’m proud to be able to represent both Everton in the Community and the Steve Morgan Foundation in this ambassadorial role. The work the charity has achieved in raising the aspirations of young people within the most deprived communities across the city is astounding and it’s a pleasure to be able to help promote its significant impact even further.”
Sue Gregory, Chief Executive Officer at Everton in the Community stated:
“We’re thrilled to welcome James, Courtney and Leon onboard as our first ever EitC and Steve Morgan Foundation Ambassadors. It’s fantastic to get their backing in reinforcing the objectives of our Impact Model as well as the significant value it has had and continues to have on the lives of so many young people in the most deprived communities across the city region.
“Our vision is to keep creating positive systematic change in South Liverpool, L4 and South Sefton, and with the support of these fantastic role models, this will help to further enforce that messaging and promote our partnership with the Steve Morgan Foundation far and wide.”
Liam Eaglestone, CEO of the Steve Morgan Foundation added:
“We are delighted that the Steve Morgan Impact Model is having such a significant effect on the lives of so many young people in our region. Along with our commitment to provide long-term secure funding for our partnership with Everton in the Community, we will also continue to provide practical support and expertise to keep driving positive change.
“With the additional support of our new ambassadors championing the Impact Model, we’re looking forward to changing more young lives for good.”
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