Liverpool FC’s charitable arm, the LFC Foundation, pledges to support half a million people a year by 2030. Tony McDonough reports
Half a million people a year will be supported by the LFC Foundation by 2030, under a new strategy announced this week.
At an event at the Anfield stadium the LFC Foundation, which is the charitable arm of Liverpool Football Club, said that throughout the 2023/24 football season it supported more than 127,000 people.
This support included 18,000 sessions and events across 300 community venues, including 199 schools. This work generated an estimated £92m in social value across Liverpool city region, taking the total over four years to £284.48m.
It includes just under £30m directly into the local economy and a total of £122m in healthcare savings through its health programmes since 2020. Last season for every £1 invested, the LFC Foundation were able to generate a return of £13.70.
Chief executive Matt Parish outlined the new long-term strategy for the next five years, with the target of doubling funding to help achieve the goal of supporting over half a million people a year.
Almost 60% of LFC Foundation’s participants in the last 12 months were from the 20% most deprived local authority wards in the country. It has also been a direct funder of a range of projects for children and young people.
These have been delivered through trusted partner charities and community groups, as well as making direct donations.
More than 19,200 individuals experiencing significant disadvantage have been beneficiaries of gifts or have been supported by external funding over the last 12 months, mainly via the LFC Foundation’s Red Neighbours team, with a total value of £2.5m.
Its new strategy will be carried out through the delivery of programmes that have a positive impact on health, learning and employment in the highest-need communities across Liverpool city region and through partnerships internationally.
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Matt Parish said: “The insights from our latest impact report, alongside the reporting over the last four years, have helped us to shape our new strategy for 2025-2030.
“We know our new strategy is ambitious but our aim is always to grow and continue to improve, so our target is to support over 500,000 by 2030 and be working internationally in 10 countries through our impactful partnerships.
“We will deliver this by continuing to develop our own high quality, measurable delivery and by supporting partners to do so both in the Liverpool city region and internationally.”