MU Foundation Still Going Strong 10 Years On

From organising player visits and Santa Runs to working closely with local schools, Manchester United Foundation has helped to change the lives of many young people for the better.
 
This month marks the tenth anniversary of the Foundation, which uses football to engage, inspire and unite youngsters through coaching, educational programmes and personal development.

The Foundation was formed after a Uefa Celebration Match in March 2007, honouring 50 years of the Reds’ participation in European competition.
 
A United side featuring legends Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo took on a Europe XI, which included current Reds striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo, with proceeds going towards setting up the club’s charitable arm.

A decade on, the Foundation has since established a wide presence across Greater Manchester and is currently working with more than 20,000 young people of all different ages and abilities on a series of regular projects.

Since 2014, an innovative Partner Schools programme has more than doubled in size, with full-time coaches now based in 20 high schools across the city.

The Manchester United Enterprise Academy continues to provide students with an insight into what it takes for the club to be as successful off the pitch as it is on the field from a business perspective through fun and practical workshops.

Funded by the Premier League, the Street Reds project is the Foundation’s flagship community cohesion programme, offering young people the opportunity to pursue their interest in playing, leading and coaching football in 12 different locations.

One of the Foundation’s main aims is getting youngsters prepared for later life and Volunteer Ninety Nine is designed to provide training, recognised qualifications and work experience for 16 to 21-year-olds interested in a career in sport.

While, throughout 2017, the Foundation is putting its participants in the global spotlight to tell their stories of the positive benefits the charity has made to them in a special #UnitedandMe campaign. 

United’s senior stars have engaged in many Foundation activities over the years and, most recently, the current first-team saw the impact the charity has had on the lives of local children at this year’s annual #SchoolsUnited events.

Chris Smalling has been a huge supporter of the Foundation since joining the club in 2010 and feels the players are in a privileged position to make a difference to young people.

“We’re lucky to be able to participate in a lot of the Foundation’s work,” the defender said. “I know when I was in school if I had a footballer come down and have a kick about, I would probably have about 10 questions written down ready to fire away at them!

“So, it’s nice to be able to do something that means so much and can give them inspiration for the rest of their education.”

Richard Arnold, chairman of the Foundation and Manchester United’s managing director, said: “The Foundation allows us to connect with our communities in Manchester, with the youth of Manchester, in the schools that we partner with and our projects in the evenings, connecting with kids and their parents.

“The world is our oyster; there’s a huge possibility for us to reach out and grow and I know the Foundation has huge ambition and huge goals for the future.”

A documentary to celebrate the anniversary can be seen in full on the Foundation’s YouTube channel.
 
During the 45-minute programme, former players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Robin van Persie visit Foundation partner schools, projects and hospitals, whilst legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson puts smiles on faces at an annual Dream Day.

“The Foundation epitomises Manchester United’s care for the rest of Manchester,” Sir Alex said. “It has played a great part in terms of educating young people and charity work so I really have to say well done to them because it still there and it’s still doing very well.”

You can share your memories and stories about the Foundation on social media using #Foundation10 and find out more about the anniversary by visiting www.mufoundation.org.

Credit: Manutd.com