The Steve Morgan Foundation has announced a three-year partnership with Wrexham AFC Foundation to scale up its community-based programmes that tackle anti-social behaviour, increase employment prospects, and improve declining youth facilities.
Founded in 2001 by entrepreneur and philanthropist, Steve Morgan CBE, the Foundation provides funding, support, expertise and best practice to not-for-profit organisations and has helped to improve the quality of life for millions of people.
It has pledged to invest £300,000 in Wrexham AFC Foundation over the next three years, enabling it to expand its Street Dragons and Young Leaders programmes, invest in community pitch regeneration, and create safer spaces for young people to thrive.
The partnership builds on the Steve Morgan Foundation’s long-term strategic support for both Everton in the Community and the Liverpool FC Foundation.
“We know things are really tough right now for a lot of people and communities across our region,” said Steve Morgan. “That’s why the Steve Morgan Foundation is backing organisations that make a real, lasting difference. We understand first-hand the positive influence of football in engaging young people and we are proud to be working with the ambitious and committed team at Wrexham AFC Foundation to help change lives for the better.”
With the Steve Morgan Foundation’s backing, Wrexham AFC Foundation aims to build a generation equipped with life, leadership, and teamwork skills through the provision of regular ‘Street Dragons’ football and sports sessions to reduce anti-social behaviour, delivering its youth leadership programme to improve wellbeing and boost confidence, and revitalising community spaces to turn derelict pitches into safe, active hubs.
Jamie Edwards, Head of Wrexham AFC Foundation, said:
“At Wrexham AFC Foundation we are determined that the team’s ongoing success is mirrored by our positive impact within the community and having the support of the Steve Morgan Foundation will be an absolute game-changer for us. We are fully aligned to the Steve Morgan Foundation’s unwavering focus on tackling the root issues of social disadvantage and this grant will enable us to provide long-term investment in people, pitches and partnerships in our town, and beyond.”
The Wrexham AFC Foundation board added:
“We are delighted to have the support of the Steve Morgan Foundation. While the players and coaches at Wrexham AFC rightly get the plaudits for their performances on the pitch, success for the Club is much broader than this.
“The incredible children, young people, families and community of Wrexham deserve the very best and the partnership between the Wrexham AFC Foundation and Steve Morgan Foundation is a significant step towards meeting our long-term aspirations.”
Earlier this year, the Steve Morgan Foundation pledged to invest £100 million over the next five years to tackle social disadvantage and fund internationally ground-breaking research into Type 1 Diabetes. Building on the success of strategic partnerships to date, the Foundation will deliver large-scale, long-term investments to improve outcomes in education, employment, and ensuring access to provision for those that need it the most, using learnings from previous projects to deliver an even greater impact.
