This year, Love2shop proudly sponsors Everton in the Community’s inaugural Breakthrough Awards – recognising how members of the local community have positively impacted their area. As one of the UK’s leading sports charities, Everton in the Community encourages sports development in underprivileged communities since 1988.
It’s also Everton Football Club’s official charity, and is considered one of the Premier League’s top community schemes. There are over 50 schemes in total targeting social issues, including employability, anti-social behaviour, crime, education, and poverty. 20,000 young people a year are supported by Everton in the Community’s programmes.
Love2shop believe in celebrating the moments that matter most. Thanks to our close ties with Everton in the Community, it was a natural choice to sponsor the charity’s Breakthrough Awards, which are all about championing people’s kindness, determination, and commitment. All of these things come together to create a positive impact.
Claire Jones, People and Integration Director at Love2shop, says “as a judge on the panel of the Breakthrough Awards, I was amazed by the quality of the nominations. I came away feeling truly inspired by the commitment, tenacity and progress demonstrated by the nominees across all of the various categories.
On behalf of the whole community and of course, Everton in the Community, we salute and celebrate our winners for all they have done – and thank you. Everyone at Love2shop sends their congratulations – and well done!”
The Breakthrough Awards were held at Everton’s stadium Goodison, in the Aled Jones Suite – hosted by Sarah Halpin. Members of the community came together to celebrate the inspiring work of the nominees, and also the hard work Everton in the Community does in general. A video showcasing the incredible work the charity conducts kick-started the ceremony, with many of the nominees featured in the footage. There were 13 awards, each representing one of the charity’s initiatives including NCS, Social Action, Home Is Where The Heart Is and the Love2shop Award for winner Mia’s bravery in sharing her own story to help others in the community.
Hearing about a group of young people who visited Qatar during the World Cup was a particular highlight. In conjunction with Street Child United, 10 participants from Everton in the Community represented Team UK in a seven-a-side tournament against others teams from around the world.
Michael, awarded the CEO Award during the ceremony, was one of the players involved in the charity game. When asked what Everton in the Community meant to him, he encapsulated his feelings in one word – “everything”. Others commented on how it was enlightening to experience different cultures, and how despite language barriers, everyone came together to acknowledge how football has the power to unite people from all walks of life.
