Manchester United are the most successful club in the Premier League. Since the league came together in 1992, United has won the title 13 times, the most of any of the top teams in England. Today, it is one of the wealthiest clubs in the world and plays in one of the most legendary stadiums, Old Trafford.
English football has a massive fan culture, often affecting the outcome of matches. To show their appreciation to the fans, the Manchester United Foundation has set up multiple programs to uplift fans’ lives, especially kids. The charitable outreach of the club helps those in need, encourages youth participation in sports, provides educational activities, and promotes employment opportunities.
The foundation lives by its U.N.I.T.E.D. values: Unity, Nurture, Invest, Together, Excellence, and Diversity. It was established in 2008, uplifting numerous people in Manchester.
We can’t highlight every moment, though, so we will stick with some of the foundation’s 2023 highlights.
This October, a coat drive run by the foundation saw 1,800 donations for the less fortunate. The men’s and women’s teams donated to the campaign, and men’s head coach Erik Ten Hag donated the 2022–23 training coat to the drive as well. He presented it to John Shiels, the foundation’s chief executive, at the press conference before the match against Brentford on Oct. 7. Fans also left more than 140 bags of coats.
“We are thankful to everyone who has been involved in this appeal, from players, staff, and fans of Manchester United and Brentford to the volunteers who have supported us at several stages throughout this process,” Shiels expressed after the drive’s success. “There has been a real sense of everyone pulling together for a greater good, which has been truly amazing to see.”
Photo Courtesy Nat Callaghan
Girls football is a big deal, and it can be tough feeling the pressure of expectations in the football world. United wished to foster a safe and inclusive environment for girls training in the academy. A well-being ball was introduced to a week’s training session to mark World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10. The U-11 and U-12 girls’ teams used a smaller than traditional size five football with motivational phrases encouraging players to express their feelings.
“It’s really important that the girls are aware that they can talk about their mental well-being. The informality of the footballs and introducing them while they’re playing it allows the girls to think about their mental health,” Matt Johnson, technical director of the Girls Academy, said in a Manchester United Foundation article. “The ball is always visible, and it’s a really good prompt to get talking.”
“Mental health is a cornerstone of football development. If the girls are in a good place, it really helps them,” he continued.
During National Inclusion Week in the U.K., the football club provided therapeutic and inclusivity programs for kids living with disabilities.
Working with partner schools, the foundation had kids without disabilities carry out activities with children living with them. The mingling helps to break down barriers of stigma and stereotyping.
“We want to break down some of the barriers that young people may face in society,” Matt Pilkington, the foundation’s disability and inclusion coordinator, said in a Manchester United Foundation article. “We want the young people to come together and make friends, regardless of whether they have a disability.”
To expand access to education and employment opportunities, Year 9 and 10 students (eighth and ninth grade in the U.S.) spent a day with health care professionals learning about different aspects of the industry. Students participated in pathology, medical scribing, and emergency phone operations. These were trial runs to see if kids were interested in a career with the U.K.’s National Health Service.
Photo Courtesy Harry Walsh
The foundation also has a ton of charity work. Dream Days allows fans and their families to hang out with players at the Carrington Training Ground for a day. They get a tour of the team museum and Old Trafford, and a matchday lottery carried out through JustGiving hooks up fans with prizes at home games. All proceeds from lottery tickets go to the foundation’s charitable goals.
United is a partner of UNICEF. They have worked together since 1999, running the United for UNICEF partnership.
The campaign spreads awareness about global issues like HIV awareness, improving child education in Myanmar, providing aid during natural disasters, protecting children from abuse in Vietnam, and vaccinating people during a measles outbreak in Syria. The club has raised more than 5 million pounds for UNICEF.
Alongside Manchester United’s philanthropy is the work of one of their club legends, Sir Bobby Charlton. The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation started in 2011 when the former England and United striker visited a minefield in Cambodia. Some citizens there lost limbs to hidden mines, and Sir Bobby realized it affected children especially hard.
His foundation works to reduce violent conflict and provide aid to those suffering from war-related injuries. It funds the development of mine-seeking technology and improves surgical repairs for those who suffer from blasts. Sir Bobby Charlton recently passed away at the age of 86.
The Manchester United Foundation has helped countless people in England and abroad. Fostering a value system of inclusivity and accessibility, the club has stayed committed to keeping fans together, even during periods of unrest. The fans will always judge the club for the results on the pitch, but they can also take pride in knowing their club still cares about their fans’ well-being.
