Community projects in Sefton will benefit from support provided by The Open Legacy Fund, helping people facing financial hardship, creating accessible green spaces and reducing the running costs of local services.
Funded by The R&A following The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, the initiative aims to deliver lasting environmental and social benefits for local communities beyond the Championship.
The chosen projects reflect the priorities of Greenlinks, The Open’s sustainability programme, which includes reducing carbon emissions, supporting a circular economy, protecting nature and delivering meaningful social value.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Chief Championships Officer at The R&A, said,
“The Open brings significant economic and social benefits to the regions that host the Championship, attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for local communities.
“Through The Open Legacy Fund, we want that positive impact to continue long after the Championship has been played and these projects will help people facing hardship, bring residents together and support more sustainable community services, resulting in lasting benefits throughout Sefton.”
Compassion Acts will establish a Mini Multibank at its Victoria Centre headquarters in Southport, working with regional multibank The Brick to redistribute surplus household essentials to people facing hardship across North Sefton. Items including bedding, toiletries and kitchen equipment will help meet everyday needs while reducing waste.
Southport Sports and Community Centre will transform an underused outdoor space into the Forget Me Not Community Garden. Accessible pathways, sensory planting and food-growing areas will create a welcoming space for residents, with particular benefits for people living with dementia and their carers.
Solar panels at Waterside Lodge will help Sefton North Scouts reduce electricity bills, with savings supporting affordable activities, building maintenance and equipment, while Brunswick Youth and Community Centre in Bootle will purchase an electric minivan for food deliveries, community services and youth activities, helping reduce transport costs and emissions.
Gateway Collective’s Growing with Gateway project in Bootle will bring residents together through community gardening and shared meals. It aims to deliver 100 sessions over a year, grow approximately 450kg of produce and provide around 1,500 meals, helping people build friendships, develop skills and reduce isolation.
A grant was also provided to Merseyside Community Foundation to distribute among the local charities raising money for those affected by the Southport tragedy.
Councillor Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said,
“We are delighted that The Open Legacy Fund is supporting such a diverse range of projects across Sefton. These initiatives will make a real difference to people’s lives, whether that is helping families facing hardship, creating welcoming green spaces, supporting young people or improving the sustainability of community services.
“The lasting legacy of The Open at Royal Birkdale will be felt in our communities for years to come, and I would like to thank The R&A for its continued investment in Sefton and its residents.”
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