Ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday 8 March, we are profiling a selection of staff who work across the Club. Today, it's Lesley Beattie and Rachel Meikle…

Lesley Beattie, Director of Development, Everton in the Community (main picture, left)

Lesley Beattie’s experience of working at home and abroad is making a difference at Everton in the Community.

As Director of Development, Lesley leads on attracting major donors and bidding for major funding opportunities for the charity, which celebrated its 32nd birthday this year.

Lesley began her career as a client manager for wealth management firm Zurich.

This was followed by a move to southern Spain, where her love of the charity sector began. Lesley originated the Sun Walk in aid of breast cancer research, which has raised five million euros to date - and still takes place every year. She also helped create a community hub for ex-pats living in Spain, to allow people to connect and contribute to their new community.

“These projects gave me an excellent insight into the third sector and how important it is to have spaces and programmes that help people to connect and community-build. I really enjoyed using my business skills to make a difference.”

Upon her return to the UK, Lesley took on business development roles in wealth management and created the commercial arm of Liverpool City Council’s Culture team, where she helped to secure funding for major attractions such as the Liverpool Giants.

She then became a consultant, advising charities and third sector organisations across the UK on how to secure funding and donors. Lesley was a founder member of The Platinum Network, and Chair of Liverpool Ladies Network, creating opportunities to bring business-focused women together.

“When I was given the opportunity to join Everton in the Community, it felt like all of my experience in the corporate and third sector had brought me to this point. For me, even from afar, Everton has always been the epitome of great corporate social responsibility. It carries out work that truly reflects its values, and that is right for the community it serves.

“I love that Everton in the Community and the Club work so closely here. When I bring people on visits across the Everton campus, they comment on the pride, excitement and ambition that they see in the people they meet.”

Everton in the Community currently runs more than 40 innovative, far reaching programmes and engaged with more than 145,816 individuals in the last year. It has won more than 100 awards and recently welcomed a visit from Prince William, who came to find out about the charity’s mental health projects.

Lesley added: “When I spoke to Denise Barrett-Baxendale and Richard Kenyon and learned more about their vision for the future, I was truly inspired.

"The plans for the Goodison Legacy project are breathtaking in their scope and ambition, and the impact it will have on what Everton in the Community can offer will be truly transformational.

“To be a good development professional you need to feel passionate about the vision you are presenting, and you need to know your organisation inside out – from governance, to delivery, to outcomes.

"Everton in the Community is so focused in its ambition and its objectives that it is not hard to be passionate!

"It is an absolute pleasure to share this clear, authentic and ambitious vision with others, and I look forward to helping shape its future.”

Rachel Meikle, Supporter Liaison Officer (main picture, right)

When Blues supporters want to share ideas or feedback on their fan experience, Rachel Meikle is often their first port of call.

As supporter liaison officer, Rachel's job is varied, but at the heart of it is her mission to make sure that the voices of Everton fans are heard.

“It is so important that our fans have a voice. Our supporters’ input is vital in making sure we are delivering on our Club mission to be the best. My job is about keeping those communication channels open.

"Even if there are some suggestions that we can’t implement, it is about encouraging constant dialogue and ensuring that our fans feel listened to.

"I’m proud to say that I help make that happen. I’m a lifelong Evertonian, so it really matters to me.”

Rachel’s role is a UEFA and Premier League licensed position, which means it is recognised by both bodies and identified as central to the Club’s operations.

Rachel is the bridge between fans and the Club. She is part of the Fan Engagement Team, who have a constant dialogue with affiliated and non-affiliated supporters’ clubs.

She also administers the Everton Fans’ Forum and the Everton Disabled Supporters Association, ensuring that feedback and ideas are fed into the Club and appropriate action is taken.

She has also worked with the Fans’ Forum to set up Sodexo and Fanatics project groups.

Rachel’s love affair with Everton began as a child. “I come from a family of Evertonians. My dad used to bring me to the match, where we would sit in the Top Balcony. I loved hearing his stories about going to the game with my brother and grandad.

“One of my own favourite family memories is wearing blue and white ribbons in my hair, sitting on my dad’s shoulders to go and see the FA Cup parade when we won in 1995!

"Once I was a little older, I had my own season ticket in the Family Enclosure and went with a group of my friends.

"I’m a local girl from the Blue Mile and grew up seeing Goodison Park every day. It is an important part of my life.”

Rachel’s previous experience has prepared her well for this role – she has worked in various customer service positions since the age of 16 and has a degree in Communication and Media.

Rachel’s Everton career began in the Fan Centre before moving to Fan Services, and now Fan Engagement.

Rachel adds: “I work closely with the Stadium Operations Team in the build-up to home and away games, communicating key information to the fanbase, and I’m also on hand to help and support with any queries traveling fans have on the day. I also attend meetings with Merseyside Police ahead of high-profile fixtures.

“I work closely with matchday teams such as the stewards and visit all the fan hot spots – the foodbank, the Fan Zone, the turnstiles and the Blue Base. People may see my rather distinctive Club coat with my job title on the back, before they see me!”

“At home games, I meet up with fans, support those displaying banners, and work with the rest of the Fan Engagement Team to provide special experiences to young season ticket holders attending their first season, celebrating birthdays, or those that have been through a difficult time.”

Rachel played a key role in working with fan group The County Road Bobblers on the reveal of the Moise Kean ‘No Al Razzismo’ banner in September 2019, which was praised internationally by fans, the media and Kick it Out.

“For me, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is when you meet a fan on a matchday that you may have been in contact with for a while, and you have arranged an experience or a pitchside photo for them.

"In some cases they have travelled hundreds of miles to get to Goodison, and to see their reaction to what you have planned for them can be very emotional.

"The Club means so much to our fans – and to me.”