NORTH WEST CHARITIES HANDED HUGE BOOST BY FOOTBALL FOR CHANGE FUNDING

Organisations awarded up to £10,000 to support vital work in communities across the region

FOOTBALL FOR CHANGE, the social mobility initiative launched by Trent AlexanderArnold, Jamie Carragher and Conor Coady, has released more than £150,000 of grants in its first round of funding for 2023.

16 organisations – the majority based in the North West – have been allocated up to £10,000 each, including Everton in the Community, Liverpool FC Foundation, The Inclusive Hub and Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.

Football For Change, which has raised more than £700,000 since launching in 2021, was founded by Alexander-Arnold, Carragher and Coady alongside business figureheads such as CEO of Ardonagh Retail, Ian Donaldson, and public relations leader, Daniel Hughes.

The initiative aims to help NEET (not in education, employment or training) young people find education or employment opportunities, as well as others who face barriers to achieving their full potential.

The Inclusive Hub, based in North Liverpool, will use its grant to offer apprenticeship and training opportunities to disadvantaged teenagers, while Talk the Talk

Education is utilising its funding to work with 60 groups of high-risk individuals, aged between 15-25, in a bid to develop learning and confidence.

Jamie Carragher, co-chairman of Football For Change, says: “This is what Football For Change is all about. The funding will change lives – there is no doubt about that.

“The charities awarded grants are already doing amazing work and this money will allow them to go further and benefit more young people, the majority from the North West.

“I am delighted to be part of this initiative and there is more to come because Football for Change is just getting started.”

Football For Change 2023 first round of funding beneficiaries:

• City of Liverpool Football Club (Knowsley)

• Everton in the Community (Liverpool)

• Kirkdale Amateur Boxing Club (Liverpool)

• Dovecot and Princess Drive Community Association (Liverpool)

• Leadership Through Sport and Business (Liverpool)

• Talk the Talk Education CIC (Knowsley)

• Liverpool FC Foundation (Liverpool)

• Together Were Stronger CIC (Liverpool)

• Tranmere Rovers in the Community (Wirral)

• Dame Kelly Holmes Trust (Bath and North East Somerset)

• Pathways 2 Phoenix (Sefton)

• Rapid Response North West (Wirral)

• The Inclusive Hub CIC (Liverpool)

• Apollo Sports Club CIC (Knowsley)

• Big Help Project (Liverpool)

• Running Head First CIC (Wirral)