As 2024 turns to 2025, the West Ham United Foundation is reflecting on another incredible year filled with impactful initiatives, transformative programs, and countless moments of inspiration. The Foundation’s work has continued to grow, addressing key issues in our community while staying true to the values that define us.
From our innovative campaigns tackling youth violence to providing opportunities that empower young people through sport, education, and mentorship, this year has been nothing short of remarkable. Among the highlights, we celebrated a number of significant milestones none greater than our inaugural Foundation Gala Dinner, which took place at the end of November.
Supported by Paragon, the event brought together Claret and Blue stars, legends, community heroes, and supporters to celebrate the Foundation’s transformative impact. The event raised vital funds for initiatives like the Beckton Community Hub redevelopment, which is expected to double the Foundation’s social impact and generate £75 million in social value within five years.
The evening featured representation from both the men’s and women’s first teams, including club captain Jarrod Bowen, and highlighted inspiring stories of resilience and achievement, with awards presented to individuals and groups who exemplify the Foundation’s values.
As well as the Gala Dinner, the Foundation also had two Premier League awareness fixtures against Liverpool and Ipswich Town, which helped to enhance the Foundation’s visibility and impact within the community
Other notable events included Golf Days with Club legends, Premier League Supermovers, International Men’s Day and a visit from the High Sherrif of London during Black History Month.
In 2024 the West Ham Foundation reached more than 50,000 people and generated over 33 million in social value across our community delivery of more than 35 programmes and initiatives.
At the heart of this success is the unwavering dedication of our team. Speaking at the annual Staff Celebration Awards, Joe Lyons, CEO of the Foundation, captured the essence of what makes this work so meaningful: "The reason we've been able to grow so significantly and focus on areas that are important to our community, like youth violence, is because of our team and their passion and dedication day in and day out."
Celebrating the Heroes Behind the Impact
The Foundation People Celebration evening, held in December, was a heartfelt opportunity to recognise the people who make our work possible. It’s a chance to acknowledge not only those on the ground delivering life-changing programmes but also the countless individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes to support and sustain our mission.
The evening culminated in the presentation of the Foundation Awards, which shone a spotlight on this year’s standout contributors as voted for by the Foundation’s workforce. The award winners were as follows:
Neal Crowley Community Champion – Derek Scott
Staff Recognition – Grace Alderton
Mentor of the Year - Jazmin Whitehead-Shakes
Coach of the Year - Cameron Anderson
Programme of the Year – Claret Claims Clinic
Closing the event was the final award of the evening, the Trustees’ Award, named aptly as it is voted for by the Foundation’s Board. This year’s recipient was Cormac Hanrahan, recognised for his commitment to the charity’s aims and objectives.
The West Ham United Foundation also proudly celebrates the achievements of Marie Gabriel, a Trustee and a leader in promoting health and equity, who has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in HM The King's New Year Honours List 2025.
This honour recognises her exceptional 45-year career dedicated to advancing health outcomes and social justice. Dame Marie is the founding Chair of NHS North East London Integrated Care System, where she has been instrumental in tackling racial bias in health care through initiatives like the NHS Race and Health Observatory. Her impact extends locally and nationally, addressing health inequity and championing diverse communities.
As a Trustee of the West Ham United Foundation, Dame Marie’s work aligns with the Foundation’s mission to support underserved communities and vision to inspire better futures. Dame Marie’s contributions have been widely recognised, including a CBE in 2018, Freedom of the London Borough of Newham, and an Honorary Doctorate from Anglia Ruskin University in 2023. She continues to inspire through her roles across health, regeneration, and equity sectors, while actively engaging with communities in north east London.
Beckton: The Future of Community Engagement
Looking ahead, the Foundation’s vision is clear: Beckton will be the cornerstone of our efforts to build a thriving community hub. Reflecting on the future, Joe Lyons shared an inspiring vision: "Beckton is the future for us. Through the focus and togetherness of our team, it will be a thriving anchor community venue."
With Beckton at the heart of our plans and the continued passion of our team, 2025 promises to be even more impactful. As we close the chapter on 2024, the West Ham United Foundation remains committed in its vision to inspire better futures and thanks everybody who has joined forced through support or collaboration to help create thriving communities.
