A new partnership between Liverpool law firm Weightmans and Everton in the Community will offer an education programme for local children. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool law firm Weightmans is teaming up with Everton in the Community (EitC) to offer a new education programme for young children in Walton.

Weightmans, which is now an official partner of EitC, the club’s charity arm, will help launch a pilot programme for young children – from birth to primary school age – to bridge the education gap exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data suggests that children presenting at nursery provision in a number of areas in Liverpool are below their key milestone expectation levels due to the lack of stimulation during lockdown.

The Nurture project will tackle education inequality with its delivery focusing on confidence, experience through physical, outdoor and technology learning, as well as skills and knowledge through movement and literacy.

READ MORE: Pro Liverpool announces support for Everton in the Community

Weightmans has offered a £15,000 donation towards the project which will also include naming rights to a purpose-built nurture room within the Goodison Campus. The nurture room will provide inspirational and motivational toys to learn through play.

Weightmans has also committed to providing support through mentoring, volunteering and skills sharing. Peter Forshaw, the firm’s CSR partner, said: “We are a large employer in Liverpool and we feel it’s important to give back to the community we operate in.

“We have a strong community engagement ethos and encourage all of our people to become involved in volunteering and charity work. We believe strongly in the wealth of local talent and nurturing that and these values align perfectly to the work EitC delivers in our region.”

Weightmans is also offering its services pro-bono in support of The Goodison Legacy project – the reimagined community project based at Goodison Park after the club has moved to its new 52,888 capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Lesley Beattie, EitC director of development, added: “It’s great to have the support of a leading Liverpool based organisation who mirror our commitment to the local community and are passionate to make education accessible to all.”