Everton in the Community’s soon-to-be mental health and wellbeing hub ‘The People’s Place’ has been awarded a substantial funding boost from the Premier League, the FA, and the Government’s Football Foundation.
The People’s Place, which is due to open its doors in Autumn this year, will provide a dedicated purpose-built space for the charity to expand on its award-winning mental health delivery and promote positive mental and physical wellbeing.
The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity and exists to improve the experience of playing football for everyone by championing fair access to quality facilities.
When opened, The People’s Place will be the first of its kind associated with a Premier League Football Club and will house a range of activities which have been evidenced to improve mental health, from physical activity and sport as well as education and employment activities.
The facility will also provide clinical services with a team of GPs and mental health professionals operating from The People’s Place and will help alleviate the pressure on other health services within the region.
On the awarding of the Football Foundation grant, Everton in the Community’s Director of Health and Sport Mike Salla said:
“The People’s Place will provide an overarching service to everyone, and we’re delighted to have received funding from the Football Foundation to support us in channelling better wellbeing in our community.
“On behalf of Everton in the Community, we’d like to thank The Football Foundation for their support and look forward to the future as we move closer to making The People’s Place a reality.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said:
“This grant awarded to Everton in the Community, which will go towards developing The People’s Place is great news for the local community.
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA, government and Sport England – to support facility development projects like this across the country.”
