A charity launched in 2020 by Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jamie Carragher and Anthony Gordon is already changing the lives of deprived young people in the United Kingdom with the help of world-famous football stars and business leaders.
Jude Bellingham, Gary Neville, Gary Lineker, Conor Coady, Steven Gerrard and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are among the big-name stars supporting Football for Change, while Sir Rod Stewart was named official patron earlier this year.
Football For Change (FFC) aims to give young people who face social and economic barriers the platform to build better futures, regardless of their start in life.
FFC focuses on school leavers who are not in employment, education or training in neighbourhoods affected by low educational attainment and high levels of youth unemployment.
Despite only being formed in 2020, the team of football superstars and business leaders - including Swinton Insurance, Dam Health and Sedulo - has already helped send 40 young people from Merseyside on a month-long sports and education trip to Dallas, USA.
Furthermore, Football for Change raised £250,000 in its inaugural gala, hosted in Liverpool in November, as global superstars such as Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran and Robbie Williams donated exclusive items to a live auction.
Rod Stewart, Pixie Lott, Carol Vorderman and Westlife star Nicky Byrne were all in attendance alongside Calvert-Lewin, before Carragher and Gerrard raised a further £100,0000 at a fundraising lunch in Liverpool with Alistair Campbell in March.
Gerrard said at the time: “I am immensely proud to be involved with Football For Change. This is such an important initiative and I know from growing up that for a lot of young people good opportunities are scarce.
“We’re aiming to change that and to give youngsters who’ve not necessarily had the best start in life a little bit of hope. For example, Football For Change funding the Dallas trip is fantastic and will give young people who need it the opportunity of a lifetime.
“More and more footballers and business leaders are getting involved with this initiative and I hope more do too. It will change lives for the better and make a real difference to young people who need a bit of support in life.”
A second gala fundraising event is set for Manchester in September, headlined by Emeli Sande, Mel C and a surprise world music star, with another exclusive auction aiming to raise even more for disadvantaged young people.
As FFC gears up for another massive 12 months of changing lives, here are the football superstars with connections to Everton and Liverpool helping make a real difference.
Jamie Carragher
Carragher, a co-founder and chairman of Football for Change, has been a driving force behind the initiative.
The Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit has helped bring in other big-name supporters of Football for Change and has major plans for the future.
He said: “This is just the beginning for Football For Change. Everyone involved is keen to help young people, who’ve not got the means, money or connections, to build better lives. Too many have seen opportunities taken away from them in recent years.
"We’ve got to level the playing field so they all have the same life chances.”
Anthony Gordon
Everton winger Gordon helped bring Football for Change into the public eye before a breakout season on the pitch. He admitted the aims of FFC 'are close to my heart' and is helping the charity continue to meet its goals.
Gordon said: “I am proud to join the other players, using our platform, to help this brilliant initiative change lives for the better. We’re all aiming to give young people from disadvantaged communities a platform towards a brighter future.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold has played a crucial role in Football for Change. After being a driving force during the early inception alongside Carragher and Coady, he has helped FFC continuously hit its ambitious fundraising goals.
He was then shortlisted for the HSBC UK Ethnicity Award, a major honour, for his involvement with Football for Change.
Alexander-Arnold said: "Football For Change is about giving everyone opportunities they deserve from a young age. Cities like Liverpool are more deprived than other areas and so it's important for us to come together to support this.
"Everyone that has given it their backing so far is massive for us and this is only going to help improve young people's lives by showing them a more positive path.
"To have the platform I've got now and reach out to so many people, be a role model for so many, it's important to use that in the right way and get involved in initiatives like this.
"You see so much deprivation within cities like Liverpool, whether that be food, shelter, education or even opportunities just to play football.
"And that's why initiatives like this are so important, to give people opportunities and give people an equal chance to leave their problems to one side and prosper
"Football For Change is so easy to get behind while the benefits and impact you'll have on young people will be absolutely massive."
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Everton striker Calvert-Lewin attended the inaugural Football for Change gala in Liverpool in November and played a huge part in making the night a success, including donating exclusive items to the fundraising auction.
His involvement in FFC has continued ever since, with the 25-year-old stating: "Football For Change is an incredible initiative which will provide opportunities to young people affected by social and economic disadvantages.
"It is hard for so many youngsters, particularly those who’ve been hit hard by the pandemic, so now is time to help. It is great to be part of this and join the other football names and business leaders involved. Together we are aiming to make a difference."
Conor Coady
Coady joined Football for Change shortly after its inception and attended the launch day alongside Carragher and Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool academy graduate has gone on to become a driving force behind the initiative, appearing at events and raising crucial funds.
Coady said: “Football for Change offers young people who’ve grown up in challenging circumstances the hope of a better future.
"The impact of the recent pandemic has made these challenges even greater so this initiative is more important than ever. I’m pleased to be giving Football for Change my support. It will make a real difference.”
Gary Lineker and Andre Gomes
Former Everton striker Lineker joined current Goodison Park midfielder Gomes in becoming ambassadors for Football for Change after the pair became aware of the initiative.
Lineker said: “Football for Change is a great example of footballers working together to help young people in some of the most socially and economically challenged neighbourhoods in the country.
"The pandemic has hit young people particularly hard so this initiative, which is working to deliver opportunities in education and employment, is needed more than ever. I am proud to support it.”
Gomes said: “As professional football players and worldwide known figures, we must be role models to society. Through Football For Change, we can make a difference in young people’s lives, supporting them in their social, educational and sportive paths.
"With this platform, youngsters from challenged communities will be given the fundamental tools to prepare themselves for a brighter future.
"I’m truly happy to be part of this initiative and I hope that we can be an example to those kids that dream and aim to be better.”
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool legend Gerrard became part of Football for Change in a bid to improve the lives of young people living in poverty following the coronavirus pandemic.
Gerrard said: "Covid-19 has made the lives of so many young people who were already struggling even worse.
“The Football for Change initiative will give them opportunities in education and training so they can build towards a better life – people often don’t see how difficult that can be. I am proud to support it.”
Jude Bellingham
England international Bellingham is reportedly on the radar of Liverpool for a big-money transfer from Borussia Dortmund and linked with the best teams across the globe.
The former Birmingham City midfielder has already shown his social conscience, however, by becoming a recent ambassador of Football for Change.
Bellingham said: "I'm really proud to support Football for Change.
"It is a unique collaboration between business leaders and footballers who are combining their efforts to help young people facing disadvantage in some of the most challenged communities in the country.
"We're aiming to fund projects which support young school leavers, particularly those who are facing economic and social barriers to achieving their potential, into education, employment or training.
"We're also deploying business leaders and footballers as role models to help young people facing adversity onto a positive path in life. We want to change lives and improve social mobility."
Seamus Coleman and James Milner
Everton and Liverpool veterans Milner and Coleman also support Football for Change.
Coleman said: "Football for change is all about transforming the life chances of young people, helping them to secure better futures.
"I am proud to be involved in this fantastic initiative."
Milner added: "Football For Change is making a real difference by investing in support for young people in some of the most deprived areas in the country.
From similar projects the James Milner Foundation supports, I have seen first hand the positive difference that targeting areas using sport and specifically football can have on younger people."
Toni Duggan
Everton striker Duggan, who has also had spells with Manchester City and Barcelona, is one of two Women's Super League players representing Football for Change alongside Arsenal forward Beth Mead.
Duggan, who appeared in the charity's feature film, said when joining Football for Change: "There’s a collective goal from all the players and business leaders involved to give deprived young people the skills they need to prepare themselves for a brighter future.
"It is about making a difference to their lives because too often, those from socially and economically challenged communities face a real struggle to reach their potential, through no fault of their own. I’ve seen it growing up myself.
"There is a huge amount of work to do."
