As Liverpool FC official charity, the LFC Foundation, celebrates its 20th birthday, it’s revealed the organisation has helped 83,000 people in the last 12 months. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool FC’s official charity, the LFC Foundation, has helped more than 83,000 people in the last 12 months alone, new figures show.

Men’s and women’s club captains, Jordan Henderson and Niamh Fahey, help the foundation celebrate its 20th birthday. And at the event to mark the landmark the foundation released its second annual social impact report.

This independent report also found that in the last year the LFC Foundation directly delivered £8m into the local economy and contributed nearly £25m in health benefits.

It has overseen more than 348,000 hours of programme activity – up from 66,000 the previous year – and now has an overall annual social value of £80m. This means that for every £1 spent the LFC Foundation creates a social return of £16.

Jordan Henderson said: “As a proud supporter of the LFC Foundation I’ve been lucky to see first-hand the difference their work makes to so many young people and families across the city and around the world.

“In these uncertain times their work is more important than ever and seeing their dedication and passion to create opportunities for young people is really inspiring.”

The report, conducted by research and technology company Substance, also highlights how much the LFC Foundation has grown over the last 20 years, and it now employs 114 people and works with more than 200 partners.

Via its  its community programme, Red Neighbours, oversees more than 50 programmes locally, seven days a week. They aim to create life-changing opportunities for the most underserved communities in local parks, community hubs, classrooms and on football pitches.

LFC Women’s skipper, Niamh Fahey, added: “Access to sport for children and young people is so important for many reasons.

“Not only does it have a positive impact on physical and mental health by encouraging a healthy lifestyle and building important skills such as confidence and resilience. But it also has the power to bring communities together.”

Matt Parish, chief executive of LFC Foundation, added: “Our mission for the last 20 years has been to harness the power of the LFC family to create life changing opportunities for the most underserved communities home and away.

“This is something everyone at the LFC Foundation delivers with an immense sense of pride. So, it is particularly satisfying to see just how much all that great work is impacting the Liverpool city region and beyond.”