Ex-Everton player changing Merseyside children's lives

A former Everton and Manchester City footballer whose community hub has helped local people of all ages, is now asking for further funding to help carry on their work.

Tony Grant, who played 94 times for The Toffees, started A&K Community Hub in 2024, which delivers various support sessions on men's mental health, activities for young children and computer literacy classes for the elderly.

Grant also helped fund a vocational, sports-led school at the same premises in Birkenhead, for those who have been excluded from mainstream schools.

Grant said: "I don't believe there's a magic wand, it's just getting the best out of what people have got and seeing the best in people".

Despite a long 15-year footballing career, Grant has always wanted to give back to the part of Merseyside he grew up in.

"Community has always been a big part of my childhood, we had it then.

"Empathy, respect and humility were built in, I grew up under great role models," he said.

The position of role models is central to their work, to boost the attitudes and attendance of those children who have previously not suited mainstream school.

He said: "We've taken kids who had an attendance record of about 15% and then under us, we've got them up to 90%".

The school runs several courses including construction and pathways into footballing coaching and playing - an avenue close to Grant's heart - but all taught in a judgement-free space.

"They walk around our place like they own it - there's no hierarchy," he added.

The former footballer, who later became first team coach at Blackburn Rovers said football was "the hook" to support kids in the region, in which the parallels between football and life are not lost on Grant.

He said: "But they're living in an era of social media, it becomes quite scary at times and it's easy to become housebound and disenfranchised.

"Robbie Fowler's been in to have a conversation with all of them, they were all Reds so they were all made up.

"Most of these kids won't be footballers, but they can all become a little better in themselves [along the way]," he said.

Grant's empathy hasn't gone unnoticed by friends and the community alike, yet he said he is doing whatever anyone else would do.

"Everyone's got it [in them], but not everyone puts themselves in that position," he said.

Alongside the school, the hub puts on free advice courses for those struggling with debt, the cost of living and loneliness.

The centre also invites the elderly in to enjoy live entertainment and food, all for free, whilst cookery classes and computer literacy have helped give important life skills back to those who need it.

During those cookery classes, many people leave with a brand new free air fryer, which Grant said can be an effective way to cut domestic costs amidst rising energy prices.

"They come in and then found more opportunities to enjoy their life.

"Our door is always open, it becomes a space where they can talk and get a warm meal," he said.

The community hub and schools project was initially funded in part by Grant himself, though energy supplier Cadent has since become the main financial backer and is now looking for local businesses to help create opportunities for those that attend.

The centre has since seen thousands of people supported, whilst one lady in her 50s recently came back to tell the team how the last Christmas she had was the best she'd ever had.

She was struggling with several issues, including debt and was at first "anxious" to visit the centre.

Grant said: "She's made new friends and her life is different to what it was when she walked in."