EitC Volunteer Crowned Barclays Community Icon

Everton in the Community volunteer Omar has been chosen as the Barclays Community Icon for July, recognised for his inspiring journey from shy participant to dedicated volunteer. 

The Barclays Community Icon of the Month award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond through Premier League funded programmes to help and inspire others. 

At the start of the season, clubs were invited to nominate standout volunteers or participants for their positive contributions. 

Now 18 years old, Omar has been involved with the official charity of Everton Football Club for three years after first joining the charity's Safe Hands programme as a participant in June 2023. 

He had lived abroad with his family and returned to Liverpool but, due to his SEND needs and the Covid-19 pandemic, struggled to cope in mainstream school and had stopped attending. 

Participating in the Safe Hands programme - which supports young people aged 10–16 who are experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), neurodiversity, low-level SEND needs, poor mental health or challenges with social skills – alongside his younger brother, Omar was initially very shy and withdrawn. 

The programme provides personalised support plans alongside targeted one-to-one and small-group sessions designed to improve wellbeing, build confidence, develop social skills and help young people explore future education, training and employment pathways. 

Diagnosed with autism, ADHD and dyspraxia, Omar initially struggled to communicate, but he supported his younger brother throughout the sessions and always arrived with a smile on his face. 

Omar said: “When Covid struck, I had nowhere to go. I didn’t really have a future planned.

“Everton helped me out a lot. We were dead shy and wouldn’t talk that much but that started to build the more we came.” 

After finishing school education and turning 16 in 2024, he signed up to officially become an EitC volunteer and has completed over 250 volunteer hours on various programmes.

Since becoming a volunteer, Omar's confidence and communication skills have flourished, and he also represents one of Everton's disability football teams. 

He said his ultimate goal would be to get a job at Everton in the Community, adding: “I saw the way they cared about us. I just wanted to be like them and support and help other people.” 

Senior Manager of Youth and Support at Everton in the Community, Anthony Harden, said: “We have seen Omar go from a very shy, reluctant and withdrawn participant to a fully confident, socially able, kind, caring and considerate young man who always puts others first. “His journey from participant to volunteer has been an honour to be part of and he has shown others what’s possible if you have commitment and hope.”

Speaking after receiving the Barclays Community Icon award, Omar said: “My journey at Everton in the Community has been amazing – it's changed my life completely.” 

You can find out more about Everton in the Community’s Safe Hands programme here or support our life-changing work here.