The Steve Morgan Foundation Announces Significant Multiyear Funding for a new Strategic Partnership with OnSide

We’re excited to announce our newly established strategic partnership with the Steve Morgan Foundation and are grateful for its significant funding commitment. This will  help us provide practical support and opportunities for young people to discover their passions and purpose.

The Foundation has allocated £300,000 a year between three Youth Zones, The Hive in Wirral, Warrington Youth Zone, and The Way in Wolverhampton, with an additional £50,000 a year earmarked for the launch of The Dome in Crewe later this year. This multiyear funding commitment initially amounts to £650,000 with the hope of additional funding for further years as the partnership develops. By working in collaboration with the UBS Optimus Foundation, the Steve Morgan Foundation grant will be increased by a further 10% which means even more money for our essential work. The funding will cover staff costs to support the Youth Zones’ core offer of providing access to trained youth worker professionals.

The Steve Morgan Foundation firmly believes in the power of collaboration to deliver effective positive change, and forming long-term partnerships with organisations such as OnSide is a key part of its strategy and commitment to changing lives for good.

Steve Morgan CBE, owner and founder of the Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership:

“I have a long-standing relationship with OnSide, dating back to my involvement with Wolverhampton Wanderers. In 2012, the Steve Morgan Foundation designed and built The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton, providing a safe environment for young people to have fun and thrive. Over 17,500 youngsters have benefited from the activities and support offered there.

Having witnessed the positive impact OnSide has on young people, we are delighted to continue supporting their vital work in our region.”

Liam Eaglestone, CEO at the Steve Morgan Foundation said:

“OnSide provide wonderful, and much needed, facilities for young people in our region through their brilliant Youth Zones, but much more than this, through their fantastic and dedicated staff and volunteers, they actively invest in the lives of young people day in and day out, every week of the year. Alongside our funding partners, UBS Optimus Foundation, we are proud to invest in the work of OnSide and play our part in creating positive impact and outcomes for young people.

OnSide collaborates with corporate partners to build and sustain a network of state-of-the-art Youth Zones in the UK’s most disadvantaged areas. These centres are vibrant spaces filled with energy, inspiration, and highly skilled youth workers who offer trusted support and life-changing opportunities.

In addition to the Youth Zones, OnSide delivers projects aimed at enhancing local activities and ensuring young people have the skills and support they need to succeed. Their ‘Youth Voice’ project empowers youngsters to have a meaningful and impactful voice in their communities.

Commenting on the funding and partnership our CEO, Jamie Masraff, said:

“We’re proud that The Steve Morgan Foundation has been a long-term supporter of our brilliant OnSide Youth Zones that serve the Foundation’s geographic focuses. We are over the moon that these Youth Zones have not only been awarded £650,000 but that we’re also a Steve Morgan Foundation Strategic Partner. This investment will provide opportunities for thousands of young people and community links to The Way, Wolverhampton Youth Zone, The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone, and Warrington Youth Zone, as well as the Crewe site currently in development. And it gets even better, thanks to UBS Optimus Foundation, a partner of The Steve Morgan Foundation and OnSide, we can make even more of a difference to young people, with an additional 10% match!”