How Milner harnesses football to help those in need
As Barclays Premier League action resumes this weekend, James Milner will attempt to harness the power of football to continue crucial fundraising at his foundation's latest charity event on Sunday evening.
The Liverpool vice-captain has long been dedicated to the cause of making a difference away from the game, fully aware of the potential to use his profile within the profession on behalf of others outside it.
His own organisation – the James Milner Foundation – was launched four-and-a-half years ago to promote healthy recreation for the benefit of young people in the United Kingdom via opportunities in sport.
Next up for the charity is a unique ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ ball, set for November 22, which will provide a night rich with entertainment and simultaneously generate important funds for Bloodwise, Help for Heroes and the NSPCC.
“We are very fortunate to do what we do for a living and get paid well for it,” the No.7 told Liverpoolfc.com.
“You have a certain profile with that and sometimes it’s a good thing and other times it’s not, but you can use that for the better and that’s just something we decided to do.
“I thought it was a good idea to use that in a positive way and try to do some good and raise money for these charities. We’ve managed to do that so far and hopefully that can continue.
“I just felt I was in a position where if I could help people I would. You get so many requests as well, asking for help from different people and letters and things like that, and it’s so difficult to help everybody.
“The idea was if we had the foundation, we could channel the energy through there and we could say this is what we are doing and helping these three main charities.
“We help other small initiatives as well, either side of the Pennines, obviously Leeds where I am from and this side as well.
“We are in a lucky position where we can use our time to make people’s day and in this instance, hopefully give people a great night, have an enjoyable night and they can win some good prizes, but also the main thing is raising money.”
Courtesy of help from Milner’s colleagues, peers and key partners, the foundation’s annual events have grown more successful with each passing year and raised a record £130,000 on the last occasion.
This time around, a number of packages are available to sponsor, attend or advertise at the function, with the three aforementioned charities – all close to the Reds man’s heart – set to benefit.
Bloodwise is a specialist blood cancer charity, Help for Heroes gives practical support to wounded, injured and sick members of the Armed Forces and their families, and the NSPCC exists to protect children.
Milner said: “I’ve been an ambassador for the NSPCC going on 10 years now when I was at Newcastle, so I’ve been involved with them for a long time.
“Help for Heroes is a charity we supported with the England Footballers Foundation a number of years back and I thought it was a great charity. I know the work those guys do and their efforts and what they are putting on the line for us, and the people actually doing it is the families as well, so I thought it was a great cause.
“Bloodwise was put on just as we were forming it really because of Stiliyan Petrov, who I used to play with, and seeing what he went through and fortunately came through the other side.
“Having played with Stan [Petrov] and knowing him as a person really well, he’s such a great guy and he was a fantastic player. He didn’t get much credit for how good he was and he had his career cut short because of that illness – and without the work that charity does who knows what would have happened with Stan?
“He’s still playing now in five-a-sides and Sunday League and is loving it again. He’s a great guy and when you see someone you know well go through that, it’s obviously difficult.”
The England international’s support does not conclude at the end of these events either and he has undertaken personal visits to each charity to see exactly how the foundation’s help aids those in need.
Citing one example, he said: “I’ve been to a number of assemblies the NSPCC put on at local schools and a couple in Manchester, and how the money gets used there and how the volunteers get paid.
“From one of the assemblies we were actually at, one of the children came forward and said they had unfortunately been getting abused at home by a family member. Obviously that’s a horrible thing and to think we’ve actually managed to help put an end to that and give this child the courage to step forward and make them aware of the help that is there, because obviously as a child it’s so difficult and you don’t know who to turn to.
“So the work the NSPCC do and to actually be there and see that happen was fantastic, and it showed the work we have put in and the generosity of everyone who has helped.”
A prize auction will form part of the night’s overall fundraising and, Milner believes, perfectly complement the variety of entertainment booked in.
“This year’s is ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ so there might be one or two surprises in there,” he added.
“Act-wise, we’ve always had some pretty good acts, we’ve had in the past the Kaiser Chiefs, JLS, Alexandra Burke, Dynamo and this year the line-up is Jason Manford, Diversity will be performing, we have Scouting for Girls and Lawson, and Duke, who are another great act.
“There’s some good acts in there, I think it’s a great line-up and for the people coming they will get great food and great entertainment.
“Some of the prizes we have this year are pretty amazing as well from the auction. Last year we gave away a brand new car in the raffle so hopefully we can produce that as well and someone will be driving away in a brand new car.
“There aren’t too many charity auctions where you can go and get a new car for a £50 or £60 raffle ticket, so hopefully we will get a lot of people supporting it and make people’s night as well because it’s great for people to go home with so many great prizes, but in the end it’s all about raising that money.
“There is a JustGiving page as well so if someone wanted to donate any amount of money, it goes straight to the charities.
“Any support is always welcome and anyone who wants to get involved with sponsorship, or thinks that they have got a good prize, it’s all welcome.”