Granting support: ex-Premier League footballer proves teamwork doesn’t end after the final whistle blows 

Former Everton footballer Tony Grant is proving that - when it comes to supporting people living in vulnerable situations - teamwork doesn’t end after you hang up your boots.

With support from Cadent, the gas distribution network, he acquired a disused church centre on Park Road North, Birkenhead, and transformed it into a vibrant community hub.

Today, less than 12 months on, the centre is thriving, welcoming hundreds of local people through its doors each week.

It offers a wide range of activities and access to vital support services, including advice on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, debt, benefits, and more.

Last week, the centre hosted a conference – organised by Cadent – for 36 like-minded charities, community centres and local businesses, to discuss the pressing challenges facing people living in vulnerable situations across the North West of England.

Like the A&K Community Hub, many of the organisations were from the Cadent family of ‘Centres for Warmth’ – an initiative funded and developed by the gas network to support existing community groups which help people living in vulnerable situations.

It was an opportunity to form new partnerships and to learn from each other, to deal with the challenge of having more and more people visiting charities for support with fuel poverty, energy efficiency, debt management and issues associated with cost of living.

A series of keynote sessions were delivered by leading charities, including Scope, YMCA, St John Ambulance and Alzheimer’s Society, to inspire local charities and community groups to consider new approaches to customer vulnerability support this winter.

Other Merseyside Centres for Warmth who attended included The Social Brokers centre in Kirkdale and Fazakerley Community Federation.

Tony Grant, who made 94 appearances for Everton, as well as playing for Manchester City and Burnley, said: In a short space of time, the A&K Community Hub has become an integral part of the community, supporting everyone from newborns to pensioners. We’re making a real difference on issues like loneliness, safety, and the cost of living.

None of this would be possible without collaboration - which is why it was fantastic to welcome so many like-minded organisations from across the North West to our centre. We’re learning from each other and working together to grow and evolve.

Phil Burrows, Head of Customer Vulnerability and Social Impact at Cadent, said: At Cadent, we’re committed to supporting our most vulnerable customers, achieved through our many partnerships, both locally and nationally. We’re therefore in a unique position to bring together many expert voices to share learnings and propose new solutions.

What we know from speaking to our charity partners every day is that cost-of-living challenges are sadly, now simply the norm for many. Therefore, we hope that our local conferences help to deliver new ideas and our partners will be inspired to continue the amazing work they’re doing in supporting people living in the most vulnerable situations.