Liverpool Foundation Supporting Children Through Sport
The charity arm of English Premier League champions, Liverpool FC, LFC Foundation is partnering with Right to Play to use the power of sport for transformation of the lives of vulnerable children in their city and around the world in order to see them achieve their full potential. This is in recognition of the fact that every child deserves the right to an education, feel safe and respected and to be treated with dignity.
The reality is that millions of children around the world do not have access to these fundamental rights and the situation has been made worse by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact. EFDN member LFC Foundation issued a rallying call to its club’s fans around the world to support the initiative that seeks to help children rise above adversity and empower them to learn, lead and succeed.
Side by Side will kick off delivering community programmes in Liverpool and Bangkok and expand into other countries and communities as the partnership develops. The Liverpool City Region is the most deprived city region in England. Health, life expectancy and educational attainment are all below the national averages. Crime and youth unemployment rates are amongst the highest in the country. In some areas of the city, more than half of children are living below the poverty line. In Liverpool, the project will build upon the LFC Foundation’s existing Open Goals programme in Anfield, which provides free multi-sport and play sessions in local parks to help educate and engage young people in the local area. The partnership with Right To Play will enable Open Goals to be delivered in more parks and open spaces in areas of need across the Liverpool City Region, and potentially beyond in the UK.
In Bangkok, crime and anti-social behaviour amongst young people is a growing problem due to limited attention within the education system and a lack of social services to support vulnerable young people. LFC Foundation projects will support the most vulnerable children in urban Bangkok to develop critical life skills, including leadership, self-confidence, communication and resilience. The programmes will also build and rehabilitate play spaces to ensure safe, accessible areas for young people to play and learn. Together, these Side by Side programmes will use the power of sport and play to engage, educate and empower children to rise above adversity and learn, lead, and succeed.
Fans can sign up at liverpoolfc.com/sidebyside to join the campaign and make a difference in children’s lives. The Right to Play logo will be on LFC’s kit worn during the upcoming Champions League campaign as was the case last year. The kit is now available for fans to add to their shirts in LFC stores and the online retail store. All of the proceeds raised from the sales will support the work of the Side by Side partnership. Fans will also have the opportunity to feature on a pitchside board during a live Liverpool FC Premier League game at Anfield. Launching on Wednesday 21 October, ahead of The Reds’ Champions League match against Ajax, the exclusive competition will give fans the chance to appear Side by Side with their LFC heroes.
