SOUTHAMPTON FC charity Saints Foundation engaged more than 5,300 participants during the delivery year of 2022-23. 

The club hosted their first 'Our Impact' event at God's House Tower in Southampton's city centre this month.

Staff, volunteers and participants came together to spread the experiences and the impact of their work in the community. 

Participants vary from primary school children to senior citizens of any age with Saints Foundation delivering 15 projects.

Those projects focus on education, health, employability, pathways and gender equality and staff from each were present at the event. 

CEO Greg Baker told the Daily Echo: "We launched our new strategic plan last year and this is effectively a report on what we said we would do.

"We have always measured our impact but this is the first time we have published it and done an event to celebrate it. 

"It is important to report back to funders and donors about what it is we're doing - and also what we can do better. 

Daily Echo: Greg Baker speaks at the Saints Foundation eventGreg Baker speaks at the Saints Foundation event (Image: Alfie House)

"We want to be transparent so the impact report is very honest, some of what we have done has not worked and we need to change our approach. 

"Sometimes you see charities take money and you don't know where it goes but here you can see exactly what is being done with it." 

Baker added: "We're very clear that we can support people but it it is the participants who achieve their own goals. 

"When you talk about a young person turning it around in school, it is about them feeling empowered to do that. 

"When you talk about a senior who wants to improve their life physically, we can be the conduit and give them the opportunity but it is they who seize change themselves." 

Foundation staff member Connor co-ordinates the Senior Saints programme, with one regular participant on his weekly walks now 97 years old. 

Daily Echo: Senior Saints co-ordinator ConnorSenior Saints co-ordinator Connor (Image: Alfie House)

Skye and former Saints player Caitlin head up the projects focus on reducing gender inequality manifesting in young people. 

Daily Echo: Caitlin and Skye-Loren lead change makers and Saints teammatesCaitlin and Skye-Loren lead change makers and Saints teammates (Image: Alfie House)

Support can range from encouraging leadership in young boys and girls to building confidence in senior citizens to be able to stand up from a fall.

A member of Saints Foundation staff - Jed - will even meet prison inmates at the gates on their release if there is nobody else to support them. 

Guests heard how around 30,000 of Southampton's population live in one of the 10 per cent most deprived areas in the country.

Daily Echo: A map of who Saints Foundation reached during the 2022-23 delivery yearA map of who Saints Foundation reached during the 2022-23 delivery year (Image: Alfie House)

A third of the participants in Saints Foundation projects live in the most deprived areas with the charity looking to further target this. 

More than 4,000 participants achieved at least one positive outcome following their engagement with Saints Foundation projects. 

Daily Echo: Saints Foundation participants support the work of the charitySaints Foundation participants support the work of the charity (Image: Saints Foundation)

Saints Foundation have taken on four learnings from research into their impact during the delivery year of 2022-23.

Saints Foundation works best when participants have a say in what the work looks like and they will actively involve them in helping shape the future of projects.

Daily Echo: A number of Saints Foundation staff, including KC, are former participants themselvesA number of Saints Foundation staff, including KC, are former participants themselves (Image: Alfie House)
Participants with higher engagement times saw more results, so the charity aim to ensure more projects to offer sustained, long-term support.

Saints Foundation want to ensure they provide support to more of those most in need in the city and will work in partnership with Southampton’s agencies to do this.

Finally, they want to improve the development of new projects to launch them more quickly and efficiently.