The vital work of Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation has been revealed in its new four-year strategic plan.

The ‘Together 24-28 Strategy’ will build on the Foundation’s work within education and employability, health and wellbeing and social inclusion, whilst making a commitment to development and sustainability.

In a city ranked in the bottom 10% for health nationally, where one in four adults report feeling high anxiety and 30% of 16-plus year-olds have no qualification (compared to 18.1% nationally), the new strategy reveals how the Foundation is working alongside the club to engage more closely with its community.

Head of Foundation, Lynsey Edwards, commented: “This strategy builds on the brilliant work the Foundation has not only delivered during 2019-24 in response to Covid-19, the cost-of-living crisis and everyday conditions of people living within Teesside, but also our longevity as a charity that has supported the community for 27 years.

“We’re proud to work with and represent the club in the community and even prouder to be able to work together with the community to raise aspirations, realise potential and improve life chances.”

During 2019-24 the Foundation delivered over £20million in social return on investment, with 38,000 participants engaged in over 25,000 sessions. More than half (51%) of participants living in the top 40% most deprived wards.

Read the Middlesbrough FC Foundation Together Strategy 2024-28.

Story by Calvin de Villiers