Everton FC – Shortlisted for the ECA CSR Award 2017

Everton FC – Shortlisted for the ECA CSR Award 2017

Recently, the ECA presented the shortlisted projects for the ECA Awards 2017. One of the 9 clubs nominated for the ‘Best Community and Social Responsibility Programme’ is EFDN member club Everton FC with the project “41 Goodison Road”.
Until the #ECAAward Ceremony on 4th of September in Geneva, we will present each day one of the shortlisted projects to highlight the impact, the clubs and their foundations are having in their local communities. Until now, we already introduced the shortlisted project of EFDN member KAA Gent and the project of GNK Dinamo.

Everton FC- “41 Goodison Road”

Everton FC resides in the heart of a community with high levels of child poverty and crime rates. In 2015, Liverpool had 10% of 16-18 years young people not in education, work or training. Young People who are NEET, in care or have criminal records are amongst some of the most vulnerable groups in society. Homelessness, substance misuse and social isolation can be a troubling reality for these young people. 41 Goodison is a direct response to not only support and raise aspirations of the young people but to raise awareness of the issues to our fans and wider community.

Main objectives of the project:

• Reduce reoffending rated of young offenders, reducing criminal justice system and government costs
• Improve education training and employment attainment
• Raise awareness to sustain a 90% + score in premier League Fan survey “does your club make a significant contribution to the local community”

Project description:

41 Goodison Road is a house that provides a unique home-like environment for young people to have a safe place where they develop their skills, access education and employment opportunities. It was established in 2013 and officially launched in June 2016 after consultation with architects, building contractors, local suppliers and young people who all helped to shape the house into a fully functioning working home.

Previously, we delivered programmes from Goodison Park, the stadium of Everton FC, however, this held many access, educational restrictions and more importantly lacked a friendly door that can be knocked on at any time of the day. Everton FC listened to the needs of the young people and provided houses in the shadows of the stadium.

41 Goodison Road houses two main programmes Safe Hands and Breathing Space to provide a ‘Young Persons Offer’ and vital “front door” to knock at in a crisis. Its ‘open door’ enables young people to access a one stop shop of support that helps them to be safe, stabilise their lives and to feel part of a home-like structure giving a sense of belonging.

Safe Hands is focused on reducing crime in Liverpool by stopping those young people aged 10-19 years reoffending when released from young offender institutes. Breathing Space Project engages and inspires those young people at risk of entering the care system or existing looked after young people aged 14-19.

“This is my home, this is my family. Everton have helped me through the toughest times of my life, where I’ve been rock bottom and haven’t been able to break out of the situation I was in…. everything they run is amazing, they change so many lives.”

Both programmes offer a significant importance to tackling high levels of crime and youth unemployment as 41% of NEETS are care leavers and young offenders. Incredibly, 79% of participants have not reoffended within their first year of release compared to a national average of 32%.

162 young people have accessed 41 Goodison in the last year, with 139 attending regular education and mentoring sessions. 60 have received an intense individual support package resulting in 70% attaining education, training and employment. Of those 60 young people 36 have achieved further qualifications.

“I haven’t seen any services like this and I’ve been linked in with services since I was a kid and I’ve never seen nothing like this.”