BEST SPORTS COMMUNITY SCHEME
Everton in the Community
Everton in the Community is the official charity of Everton Football Club, providing services to those living in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), tackling issues such as mental health; unemployment; crime and health; and housing and education.
Launched in 1988, the charity runs more than 40 programmes each year, held in 130 venues across the city region and offering support to all ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and various lockdowns over the past year, Everton in the Community managed to buck industry trends by recording it highest-ever annual revenue last year, with a 20% year-on-year increased turnover and double that of five years ago.
Thanks to the swift response of the charity’s directors, staff and volunteers, as well as the generosity of its fans, Everton in the Community has been able to continue – and even step up – its vital work throughout the pandemic, enabling the charity to provide much-needed support to more than 45,000 individuals during the last 12 months alone.
Premiership Rugby – HITZ
HITZ is Premiership Rugby’s flagship education and employability programme, working with more than 2,000 14-23 year-olds across England every year.
The aim of HITZ is to help young people classified as NEET (not in education, employment or training) turn their lives around through gaining qualifications and developing their personal, employability and life skills.
The programme uses rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship to support young people to make positive changes in their life; improving participation in sport, physical and mental health, educational attainment, employability and community cohesion
With the Government reporting unemployment for young people increasing by 11% since the start of the pandemic, and that by the end of last year there were an estimated 800,000 16-24yr olds in the UK classified as NEET, Premiership Rugby’s commitment to supporting and developing individuals like this has only become more steadfast.
Premiership Rugby responded quickly, innovating and adapting the HITZ programme to ensure continued support, and a safe place for the more vulnerable, during lockdown.
Despite the challenges of lockdown – HITZ participants stayed focused, with attendance up 6% year on year, with functional skills (reading, writing, maths) exam results up 12%.
Rangers Charity Foundation – Ready for Employment/Ibrox Hub Initiative
The Rangers Charity Foundation’s Ready For Employment/Ibrox Hub Initiative was created to meet the employability needs of Glasgow’s most vulnerable young people. In addition to the effects of the pandemic, we focus on young people who face many barriers and challenges, such as living in areas of multiple deprivation, suffering from poor mental health, experience of the care system and the criminal justice system.
We established a unique partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) – Job Centre Plus to deliver a range of employability programmes for adults facing barriers, lack of confidence and skills to progress to employment or other positive destinations. The full potential of our new initiative reached fruition this year following the launch of a Youth Hub at Ibrox – the first football club/charity in the UK to create such an initiative with the DWP (Job Centre Plus).
The outcomes and successes for young people have far exceeded our best expectations. So far this year alone, the Foundation has delivered five employability courses supporting 60 young people with a remarkable 80% moving into positive destinations, including: 27 into employment; 25 into further training; 2 into further education and three who joined the armed forces.
Rugby League World Cup – Inclusive Volunteering Programme – Community Integrated Care
One of Britain’s biggest social care charities, Community Integrated Care, has partnered with Rugby League World Cup 2021 to create the first ever volunteering and personal-development programme for people who have care and support needs at a major event Engaging more than 300 people at all stages of life, it creates unprecedented opportunities – changing lives at scale
It has achieved unprecedented societal outcomes – enabling hundreds to enjoy their dream work placements, creating new facilities and services across communities in England, achieving profound personal outcomes – like supporting people to access paid work and qualifications for the first time.
From enabling a 10-year-old aspiring rapper who has autism to create a World Cup song with a hitmaker producer for Busta Rhymes, to forming a media-training club for people who have learning disabilities that hosted the Women’s Challenge Cup Final press conference, and even engaging the creative talents of people living with dementia, this is no ordinary volunteering programme!
This sits alongside Community Integrated Care’s world-first role as the Official Social Care Partner of the tournament – supporting the RLWC2021 to achieve real inclusion and accessibility This represents a new model for social impact through sports & major events.
Southampton Football Club – Saints Foundation
Saints Foundation, the charity of Southampton Football Club, aims to inspire individuals from Southampton and the surrounding areas in their journey to fulfilling their potential. Using insights, data, and evidence from multiple stakeholders across our community, we ensure that our support focusses on those who need us most. Our workforce of over 100 members of staff work hard to deliver consistent support delivering 25,301 hours of support despite restrictions throughout 2019/20 alongside additional support in reaction to new needs.
The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing needs within our communities, as well as presenting a whole new set of additional needs. Our delivery over the past season has adapted to ensure that we can support with as many of those needs as possible.
