G’wed and The Responder star Philip Shaun McGuinness has gone behind the scenes at Everton in the Community’s (EitC) Home Is Where The Heart Is (HIWTHI) programme, ahead of taking part in a milestone event at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The actor visited the charity’s HIWTHI property in L4, which provides young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness with a safe and secure place to stay.
Philip will take part in the tenth edition of Everton in the Community’s Stadium Sleepout at the home of Everton Football Club on Friday 2 October, which raises vital funds for the life-changing initiative.
Over the last decade, supporters have raised almost £500,000 for HIWTHI through the Sleepout, helping transform the lives of young people across the Liverpool City Region.
The house, designed to help young people successfully transition to independent living, first launched in 2018 following fundraising efforts led by Everton’s Under-23 side and former Everton manager David Unsworth.
The project was supported by the first-ever Sleepout at Goodison Park in 2016, which helped raise funds towards creating a dedicated home for young people experiencing homelessness.
HIWTHI provides young people with more than just a roof over their heads, offering tailored support to help them develop the skills, confidence and stability they need to build positive futures.
Up to four young people can live at the property at any one time, with residents supported by Everton in the Community’s team to develop their independence and learn essential life skills, from managing their finances and accessing training and employment opportunities to maintaining their home.
The programme also places a strong emphasis on wellbeing, with staff trained to provide support around mental health and emotional resilience. Dedicated support workers help residents navigate family and relationship difficulties, rebuild connections where appropriate and develop the confidence to manage challenging periods in their lives.
During his visit, Philip met EitC Support Workers Russell and Amanda to learn more about the day-to-day support provided at the house and why it is so important.
Senior Targeted Support Worker Russell said:
“Everyone wants to make their community better. I think one of the biggest inequalities that exists in the UK at the moment is accommodation, especially for young people.
“The reality is that any of us at any given time can become homeless. A breakdown in a relationship, a few missed rent payments. I think we can all relate to homelessness, and without an address or somewhere to live, you lose your sense of belonging and confidence.
“Homeless isn’t always what we presume; it can be that uncertainty about where you’re going to be.”
Since its launch, Home Is Where The Heart Is has helped dozens of young people access a safe place to stay while creating positive pathways for their futures, with many going on to higher education, securing paid employment and moving into independent living.
After visiting the property, Philip said:
“Football is about people. It’s about family and sticking together when times get hard. I don’t know of any other club that does what Everton does for the community.”
There is still time to sign up for this year’s Stadium Sleepout on October 2 and support Home Is Where The Heart Is. Please note, supporters must be 18 years of age or over on the event date to take part.
