News Story

Winners in focus: Everton in The Community

Monday, January 23, 2012 ~ 9:19am

TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ Community Award recognises 'a stadium, arena and major sports complex that has found new ways to support, enhance and improve its local community.' Our international judging panel deemed the outstanding winner for 2011 to be Everton FC’s ‘Everton in The Community’.

A world-leading community programme that delivers real benefits to Merseyside, the Northwest, North Wales and now also overseas, Everton in The Community (EITC) has earned a reputation for the delivery of best practice, and is recognised as one of the top performing sports charities in the UK.

A leader in the area of disability provision, EITC has provided ongoing development opportunities for over 30,000 participants during the last year, while its innovative mental health project 'Imagine Your Goals' has received a national roll-out by the Premier League due to its success on Merseyside.

Everton FC are also one of the only clubs to deliver a coordinated volunteering programme; 'Pass 4 Life', which is funded by the national volunteering organisation V. More than 150 active volunteers, of all ages and backgrounds, assist their community programmes.

After being recognised by their peers in the industry in Barcelona, Everton in The Community can now add the TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ Community Award to their wide range of accolades achieved in the past 18 months.

Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Chief Executive of EITC, was on hand at the Gala Awards evening to collect the award, along with colleague Professor William Chambers (pictured above right).

And, after returning to Goodison Park with the Award (above left), Denise spoke of her delight at the accolade: “It is absolutely fantastic that Everton has been recognised in the Community category at the most prestigious stadium awards in the sporting calendar.

Denise continued: “It quite rightly puts the Club on the world stage and reinforces the message that everyone involved with Everton is focused on raising standards and driving participation for the benefit of our fans and the wider community.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to all the staff at Everton Football Club and Everton in the Community. We all continue to make our supporters proud of the work we do and proud to be Blue!”

TO READ MORE ABOUT THE SUCCESSES OF ALL 2011 AWARD WINNERS, DOWNLOAD OUR 2011 WINNERS' REVIEW PDF HERE: