Leighton Baines has revealed the strong sense of responsibility he feels in supporting Everton’s efforts in assisting vulnerable and socially isolated people during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the wake of the outbreak, Everton has launched Blue Family - a coordinated outreach campaign to maintain contact with fans and provide assistance to at-risk members of the community.

Baines has enthusiastically thrown his weight behind the initiative, speaking to a number of Evertonians currently in isolation over the phone and highlighting the support provisions the Club is offering those in need.

As well as regular calls to potentially vulnerable fans during the pandemic, Everton and its official charity, Everton in the Community (EitC), is providing essential distribution of food parcels, financial assistance for prescription purchases and delivery, and mental health advice.

>>>DONATE TO THE BLUE FAMILY CAMPAIGN AND DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVE BY CLICKING HERE<<<

Defender Baines outlined the fulfilment he gains from supporting the Club’s wide-reaching community efforts and the power of Everton's work.

“What the Football Club means to people means we have the capacity to reach out and help them from there,” he told evertonfc.com.

“Whether that’s just cheering them up through a phone call in what could be difficult times, or providing them with a means of asking for support if they need it.

“The responsibility we have now as a football club to our fans and the community is so important.

“Over time, I think doing work like this becomes more substantial because you age and mature, and start to really hone in on the ways you can help others.

“You look for that more and more and, as a group of players, we’re lucky that we’ve got that with Everton in the Community.

“It’s a two-way thing. It’s rewarding for us, too. You do good and you feel good.

"If you can do something to help others, you do get something back in return. That feeling never loses its appeal.”

Left-back Baines joined Everton from Wigan Athletic in 2007 and has made 417 first-team appearances for the Blues – a total surpassed by only 12 players in the Club’s 142-year history.

Baines has been a keen supporter of Everton’s community programmes throughout his time with the Toffees and revealed how the Club’s substantial charitable efforts were emphasised upon his arrival at Goodison Park 13 years ago.

He detailed how he and his Everton teammates feel privileged to be able to play a part in assisting and promoting EitC’s award-winning work.

“As a city, Liverpool is intimate compared to other places and as a football club that’s part of us, too,” he said.

“We reach out to the community and to the fans as much as possible because it’s their football club and we want to support them like they support us on a weekend.

“When you join the Club, you are asked to do various community visits and as soon as you start to engage within that you realise how rewarding it is. It definitely opens your eyes up to the good things football can do.

“None of the players ever turn down these opportunities to get involved with Everton in the Community because you know the good it does.

“It’s become such a big part of the Football Club, what we’re known for and what we’re about.

“Being able to be a part of spreading that message, we’re very fortunate.”

Blue Family has also seen the EitC and charity introduce a referral form enabling fans and the wider public to refer people they believe might need a friendly voice to speak to at this difficult time.

>>>CLICK HERE FOR THE REFERRAL FORM<<<

During the coronavirus pandemic, people are reminded to stay at home to support the NHS and help save lives. For full details of the Government guidance, visit here.