Everton in the Community has become the first Club Community Organization (CCO) in the country to receive Inclusion Quality’s Mark’s Centre of Excellence Award. Based in the L4 area of Liverpool, Everton in the Community is Everton Football Club’s official charity and was one of the first clubs to establish a football-based social intervention charity, considered one of the Premier League’s “leading community schemes due to the quality and reach of its various programmes”. With over 120 full time staff, 160 volunteers and 50 programmes offered, from health and employment to anti-social behaviour and poverty, Everton in the Community has been supporting the Merseyside community since 1988. Everton in the Community is well known for being among the first to embrace new initiatives that uplift and support the community. Inclusion runs through the club’s values of ‘Ambitious, Authentic, Determined and Family’; through participating in Everton in the Community’s initiatives, participants leave with a greater self-confidence and benefit from the strong relationships Everton in the Community staff build with pupils, parents, carers, and stakeholders. Inclusivity and a commitment to the community are best embodied in Everton in the Community’s vision: “A world where everyone has access to the support they need to be the best they can be, regardless of who they are, where they live or the challenges they face. We want to be at the heart of this – empowering people and communities across Liverpool City Region to build better futures and a stronger society”.
A strong commitment to the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion agenda is evident across all aspects of Everton in the Community. With the community they serve becoming increasingly more diverse, the club works to provide adaptive sessions through continuous CPD. Compulsory training for all staff on topics such as extremism, ensures inclusion and safety are at the core of what they do. Regardless of background or birthplace, Everton in the Community work to provide a safe, welcoming space where people can feel a strong sense of belonging. A Safer Working Policy is adopted, along with collaboration with Safeguarding Leads and external services to ensure that more complex safeguarding needs are met. This is further reinforced through their partnership with 80 to 90 local schools, where they maintain up-do-date contact with the Designated Safeguarding Leads. A group of ‘Safeguarding Champions’ meet monthly to discuss best practice, conduct case reviews, and avail of CPD. Trauma-informed training and Adverse Childhood Experiences training is now provided for all new starters. This extensive training provision is a clear indicator of the commitment to creating a safe space from the CEO, Deputy CEO, and representatives from 3 key committees – Everton in the Community, Everton Football Club, and the match-day committee – as well as safeguarding standards consultations with the Premier League. In their most recent review, the Premier League noted that “There is good evidence to demonstrate that there is a strong culture of continuous improvement, and that safeguarding is a priority”.
It is recognised at Everton in the Community that staff wellbeing is an integral part of providing an inclusive environment for all. Staff appreciate the open feedback process at Everton in the Community, and any areas of development are addressed with CPD opportunities. All staff and volunteers can avail of a wide range of training in partnership with the Premier League, NHS, police, and local councils. There is a strong commitment to pastoral support too, with regular health checks and mental health support offered. Staff Wellbeing Day is an example of an impactful initiative for staff – the day is full of wellness activities, from yoga and guided meditations to creative workshops, as well as regular opportunities to share coffee and cake with colleagues. The guiding principle that “family comes first” further reinforces the commitment to community from Everton in the Community.
The Trinity Project is another shining example of how Everton in the Community puts inclusion at the core of everything it does. Encompassing the themes of Everton Minds, Learns, and Thrives, it provides a wide range of community initiatives. Our assessors had the privilege of attending a question-and-answer session with Everton legend Graham Stuart for dementia participants and carers when they visited Goodison Park. The ‘Pathway to Kicks’ camps provide structured activities and essential support services for children during half-term breaks. Cooking sessions are also provided during school holidays to provide young people with the skills needed to make healthy meals. There is a particular emphasis on providing these activities during ‘high risk’ times such as Halloween and Bonfire Night, assisted with additional funding from the police. For young people at risk of exploitation or criminality, the 42 Goodison programme provides essential intervention through referrals by police or social services, with a strong focus on personal and social development. The She Inspires programme, in collaboration with the FA and Merseyside Police, provides targeted support for young women to build confidence and transferable skills through sport. Participants can also attend Everton games and represent the club at events and tournaments, further reinforcing Everton in the Community’s commitment to instilling inclusive community values in all its young people. These achievements are recognised at The Blue Heart Awards every year, with over 400 guests in attendance and awards such as the Merseyside Police Award and the Learn, Minds and Thrive Awards, positively uplifting the accomplishments of their young participants.
Support from Everton in the Community is aimed all ages. The Premier League Primary Stars programme for children aged 2 to 11 focusses on National Curriculum subjects and inspires children to take part in sports. In a Premier League Monitoring Report, the programme was described as “a great example of how Premier League Primary Stars can provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience to those who wouldn’t normally have access to them”. The initiatives offered are targeted around areas of pressing need, such as literacy and SEND. A qualified English teacher delivers targeted interventions, as the leadership team are resolute in their stance that reading is fundamental to the success of a pupil’s path in education, training, and employment. Support is provided beyond the classroom with the ‘Other Pathways’ initiative, where opportunities are provided for children when they leave school. Their work with Weightman Law and Liverpool Crown Court allows children to be mentored and avail of internship opportunities, inspiring and supporting them to achieve their goals.
Everton in the Community has played a pivotal role in providing excellent Physical Education (PE) in partner schools for over a decade. This coaching goes beyond sport, by addressing the social and emotional development of pupils. Coaches work closely with staff and pupils through regular and open communication with Headteachers and PE leads to ensure their programmes meet the evolving needs of the children they serve. Coaches also work with class teachers and SENDCos to implement strategies for all learners, including neurodivergent pupils. The Creative Zone, featuring B-bots and Lego, demonstrate Everton in the Community’s active approach towards early thinking through play. This hands-on learning style is also present in programmes such as Active Science, where participants are provided with memorable, interactive lessons that go beyond the curriculum.
The physical space provided by Everton in the Community is another example of how inclusion is part of the everyday workings of the organisation. With an open-plan layout, café-style tables and the Tech zones for technology use, the Hub provides a welcoming community space as well as addressing key issues such as digital poverty. Many families have expressed how they would choose this setting for their child, as staff ensure an inclusive environment for children to learn in, adapting the curriculum when needed. One parent, on the assessment day, said “This place is a lifeline. The staff are angels”. The recent opening of The People’s Place, a purpose-built mental health and wellbeing support centre, has created another safe space within Everton in the Community. With meeting rooms, a kitchen and washing machine, it provides a homely, dementia and neurodivergent-friendly space. The space also includes a log burner, therapy garden, and bike library, making The People’s Place a lifeline for members of the community, who can also avail of free fitness sessions and a GP drop-in clinic.
What is clear is that inclusion is at the very core of what Everton in the Community do. From youth engagement to important intervention programmes, all ages are welcomed and supported. Staff play an important role in engaging the people who avail of their support and services, and building a sense of pride in their association with the club. This achievement of Centre of Excellence status is testament to the fact that Everton in the Community is for the community.