Young people facing disadvantage from Kirkby and the surrounding areas will have a significantly enhanced opportunity to attend higher education, thanks to a new children's education centre in the heart of the town.
On the pitch, they represent fierce local rivals, but off the pitch, LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community have joined forces to invest in the future of young people facing disadvantage in Kirkby.
Chris Kirkland and Ian Snodin
The new education facility, which is jointly-funded by education charity IntoUniversity, the University of Liverpool, LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community and The Steve Morgan Foundation, celebrated an opening event at its centre in Kirkby, joined by special guests former Everton player and club ambassador Ian Snodin, and former Liverpool and England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.
Attending the event were around 25 students aged 7-18 who are set to benefit from the centre for the next academic year and beyond, with some of them delivering speeches.
Primary school students took part in a variety of activities during the event replicating the type of activities they will be engaging with in the year ahead during after-school academic support sessions. Secondary school students posed questions about future study and careers to survey attending guests.
Around 35.1% of children in Kirkby are living in poverty, and the town is an IMD (index of multiple deprivation) decile 1 area, meaning it's among the 10% most deprived places nationally. The local progression rate into higher education is just 26.9%, compared to 44% of students nationally, making the area a prime location for an IntoUniversity centre.
The centre employs four full-time members of staff and will be used to offer after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities.
IntoUniversity has a proven track record of improving attainment into higher education for students facing disadvantage, and currently supports over 50,000 young people each year at their 41 centres nationwide.
61% of students who attend IntoUniversity centres go on to progress to university, compared with 28% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.
The centre is a joint venture between IntoUniversity, the University of Liverpool, LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community and The Steve Morgan Foundation, and is also supported by a number of philanthropic and corporate partners.
Gavin Brown, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education at the University of Liverpool said: "At the University of Liverpool we firmly believe that anyone with the talent to pursue study in higher education should be given the opportunity and encouragement to do so. IntoUniversity inspires young people while they're still in school to dream big dreams and to work hard. But more importantly it also provides practical support and help particularly to those young people who are less able to access that support.
"That's why It's fantastic to be working with our Future Goals partners - the LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community and the Steve Morgan Foundation to build on the success of IntoUniversity North Liverpool and deliver a new learning centre in Kirkby.
"With the help of our students, staff and partners, we will continue to provide academic support and inspiration for school students in our local communities."
Dr Rachel Carr, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of IntoUniversity, said: "We're delighted to be officially launching this new centre in Kirkby, building on our already successful work in Merseyside.
"We look forward to working with local schools, parents and of course the amazing young people who will bring this centre to life. Young people in Kirkby have so much talent and potential, but circumstances can mean their opportunities to succeed are limited through no fault of their own.
"We're delighted to be able to support many of these young people, explore and nurture their talents and ultimately reach their potential through the work of the centre. Thanks to all our partners for making this all possible."
Sue Gregory, Everton in the Community CEO, said: "We are delighted to have played our part in bringing this important and much-needed facility to Kirkby and look forward to helping young people from the local community realise their full potential. We are proud to stand alongside like-minded organisations today and are excited to see the impact that this centre will bring."
Matt Parish, Chief Executive of LFC Foundation, said: "We are proud to be a part of this fantastic project which will provide an opportunity for young people from Kirkby and the surrounding areas to realise their full potential. Having been part of IntoUniversity North Liverpool for the past five years and seen the positive impact it has had on so many young people we are delighted we could help to make this second site happen alongside our partners and we look forward to seeing the impact of this much-needed facility for years to come."
You can listen to an interview on BBC Radio Merseyside where Pete Doyle, Widening Participation and Outreach Manager, discusses the centre here (from 1:55 in).
All photography by Gareth Jones.
