Welcoming football star Gemma Bonner for IWD

Liverpool FC Women’s star Gemma Bonner celebrated becoming one of our charity ambassadors by hosting a special LFC football experience for our colleagues and the people we support

Together with coaches from the club’s official charity the LFC Foundation and club mascot Mighty Red, Gemma led an inclusive football event for people with learning disabilities and autism from across the Liverpool City Region, giving local reds fans the chance to play alongside one of their heroes.

We joined forces with Gemma to mark this years’ International Women’s Day 2024, to celebrate and recognise the achievements and dedication of the incredible women working in social care.

Gemma shared her pride of being involved, saying: “I have so much respect for the social care workers. I’m truly inspired by what they do and their commitment to supporting others. A lot of their work goes unnoticed, but they are hugely important to our society and make people’s lives better. It’s hard work that takes a lot of patience and compassion for others.

Meeting the people supported by the charity in person was a truly special experience – I loved getting involved in the football and helping players score goals for the first ever time!

Seeing the pride on their faces who at first where low on confidence and we’re now celebrating with new friends, just shows you how much this experience meant to everyone. I’m so proud to become an ambassador of a special charity like Community Integrated Care who truly support people to live their best lives possible.”

Sophie Mahar, Regional Support Manager at Community Integrated Care, says:

“Social care doesn’t often get the recognition it deserves, and there are millions of people out there looking for hope. Having the support of Liverpool FC Women’s footballer Gemma lets them know that they are valued and seen.

Social care needs all the support it can get, so to get the backing of such an inspiring role model in Gemma ahead of International Women’s Day, is an amazing feeling. We’d like to thank Gemma and the club for making this happen for the people we support. They will remember this forever.”

Lifelong Liverpool FC fan Nathan, a person we support, was delighted to meet Gemma, saying:

“I was really excited to speak with Gemma, as I’ve supported Liverpool all my life. I got to ask her some questions about her football career. Gemma said we can go and watch her play one day to support the Reds in person, so that’s something I can’t wait to do.”