One of South Africa’s leading NPO’s, The Spirit Foundation has joined forces internationally with Premier League club Everton to support disability and literacy programmes.

Originally formed in South Africa, the Spirit Foundation is delighted to announce a substantial increase in its commitment to UK Premiership club, Everton, through financial support for their charities: Everton in the Community (EitC), the Everton Free School and Football College (EFS).

Two new programmes of support commence in July 2024 and are a multi-year £2m (R50,000,000) funding partnership. Both programmes are set to have a lasting impact for disadvantaged communities in Liverpool and Merseyside.

The groundbreaking deal was confirmed when Spirit Chairman, philanthropist and Evertonian, Ian Kilbride, attended a disability football session while on an oversight visit to the Spirit Library within the Everton Free School.

The Spirit Foundation will now financially support the Everton charity’s 14 disability teams and, in addition, will provide funding for the Everton Free School to improve literacy levels, as well as supporting marginalised students in its Football College.

A long-standing friend and supporter of both EitC and EFS organisations, the Spirit Foundation was established in 1994 by the Kilbride family as a non-profit foundation to give back and support education, communities and wildlife projects.

Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Spirit Foundation has supported a wide array of Everton in the Community and Everton Free School projects and initiatives over many years, including the launch of a choir to combat social isolation across the Liverpool, and, importantly, the establishment and building of a library. The library has the objective of making literacy more accessible and interesting.

At EiTC, the £1m funding received from the Spirit Foundation will see it become an Official Supporter of Everton in the Community’s ‘Disability Teams’ with the organisation’s logo featured on all training wear. The Foundation’s directors will also be involved and take an active interest in the programmes.

In addition to supporting Everton in the Community, the Spirit Foundation will also become an Official Supporter of Everton Free School and Football College with an additional £1m funding being provided to improve literacy via individualised literacy programmes for each student, as well as supporting young adults with educational needs in its Football College.

Chairman of The Spirit Organisation (www.spiritorganisation.com), Ian Kilbride, comments:

“The Spirit Foundation (www.spiritf.org) is committed to supporting worthy upliftment and empowerment programmes in South Africa and internationally. Everton is the ‘people’s club’ and so we are delighted to be the Official Partner of the Everton Disability Teams via EiTC and the Literacy Development Programme via EFS. We know that the combined £2m funding will have a meaningful impact on a community suffering serious disadvantages. With its 30-year history of success in educational and community-based projects, the Spirit Foundation is perfectly placed to work even closer with EiTC and EFS.”

Sue Gregory, Chief Executive Officer for Everton in the Community, adds:

“The Spirit Foundation and Ian Kilbride are long-standing supporters of our charity and its programmes. We are so appreciative that they have pledged their long-term commitment to our work through the sponsorship of our fourteen disability teams.”

Steven Baker OBE the CEO of The People’s Learning Trust, of which Everton Free School is a founding member said;

“Professor Ian Kilbride has been an ongoing supporter of Everton Free School and Football College since its inception 12 years ago. His philanthropy enabled the establishment of our school library, helping us to achieve fantastic outcomes for the students in our care. The Spirit Foundation’s ongoing support for our school is a testament to its commitment to tackle disadvantage for children and young people in Merseyside, who often face daily challenges in their lives.”

As the charitable arm of Everton Football Club, Everton in the Community is committed to transforming lives and creating positive change in the communities it serves. Established in 1988, this groundbreaking charity has become a powerful force for good; harnessing the unifying power of football to drive social change and address societal challenges across the City of Liverpool.

With long established and committed support of the Spirit Foundation, the future looks good for EiTC and EFS.