The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation

What The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation does

The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation is a UK-registered charity (Charity no. 1140911; Company no. 07574103) founded in 2011 by the late Manchester United and England footballer Sir Bobby Charlton (died 21 October 2023) to help victims of conflict. The foundation operates three geographic programmes: (i) Greater Manchester, where it funds Sir Bobby's Street Reds—a free evening football and mentoring programme delivered with Manchester United Foundation across 23 sites for children aged 8–18 in areas of social deprivation; (ii) Ukraine, where it funds the United Together programme with FC Shakhtar Donetsk, providing three-times-weekly football training, mental-health support, and safe play for children aged 7–17 in Zaporizhzhia; and (iii) Cambodia, where it partners with Exceed Worldwide to supply prosthetics and orthotics (≈500 devices annually, over 800 in 2023–24), supported vocational training for 30 Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician students from 11 countries, and—since 2025—vocational training plus small-business start-up grants for 15 young people with disabilities. A Safe Play infrastructure model in Battambang Province addresses mine-risk education, with a planned extension to Mosul, Iraq.

The foundation has no proprietary technology platform. Operations are supported externally by Bella Design, which provides website, public-relations, and fundraising-database services under a data-processing agreement. The revenue model is donation-based: individual one-off and monthly gifts (priced £10–£100, processed via Enthuse, JustGiving, VirginMoneyGiving, and text-to-donate 'CONFLICT to 70007'), supplemented by corporate and foundation grants (e.g., Manchester United Foundation, Arts Council England) and challenge-event fundraising such as the Beautiful Game Tour, Move for Ukraine, and Race for Ukraine. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led, leveraging the football club ecosystem and Sir Bobby Charlton's brand for awareness and supporter acquisition. Governance sits with a Board of Trustees led by Chair Stephen Cross, with Vice Chair & Executive Director Jane Bateman and trustee John Shiels (former CEO of Manchester United Foundation) anchoring day-to-day leadership. Revenue, income, and headcount expansion signals beyond the ~6-employee footprint are not publicly disclosed.

Name

The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation

Legal name

The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation Ltd

Website

https://thesbcfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation is a UK-registered charity founded in 2011 that delivers football-based humanitarian programmes—safe play, prosthetics, trauma-informed coaching, and vocational training—for conflict-affected children and people with disabilities in Ukraine, Cambodia, and Greater Manchester.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Charitable foundation programs
• Conflict relief services
• Community football programs
• Prosthetic rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Knutsford, Cheshire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, accepted via the foundation's website, dedicated donation platforms, and text-to-donate. Monthly giving programme encourages regular supporter engagement.
2. Fundraising Campaigns: Targeted fundraising campaigns such as Race for Ukraine, Christmas appeals, and specific project funding. Supporters can participate in challenges and donate to designated initiatives.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Partnership funding from organizations such as Manchester United Foundation, Arts Council England, and other institutional donors for specific projects and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation is a UK-registered charity that supports people affected by war and conflict through football-based programs, prosthetic and orthotic rehabilitation, vocational training, and safe play infrastructure. Its programs operate in Ukraine (United Together with FC Shakhtar), Cambodia (prosthetics and vocational training with Exceed Worldwide, Safe Play centres), and Greater Manchester (Sir Bobby's Street Reds community football). The foundation funds projects through donations, grants, and fundraising campaigns.

Product overview

The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation operates as a charitable organization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of humanitarian aid programs and fundraising initiatives rather than software products or platforms. The Foundation's primary programs include Sir Bobby's Street Reds (community football sessions in Greater Manchester), the United Together-Shakhtar partnership (supporting Ukrainian children through football and mental health care), Cambodia programs (prosthetics, vocational training, safe play infrastructure), and various fundraising campaigns including The Beautiful Game Tour cycling initiative. The Foundation also provides communication services such as email newsletters and an online donation portal for supporters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sir Bobby's Street Reds Free evening football provision delivered in partnership with Manchester United Foundation, providing safe inclusive spaces for children aged 8-18 in areas of social deprivation such as Moss Side, Manchester. Features coaching, mentoring, and life-skills education. Operates at 23 sites across Greater Manchester.
• United Together - Shakhtar Project (Ukraine) Partnership with FC Shakhtar Donetsk providing Ukrainian children aged 7-17 affected by conflict with football training sessions, mental health support, and safe play opportunities in Zaporizhzhia and other locations. The foundation funds coaches, pitches, kits, balls, and on-site psychologists for three-times-weekly sessions.
• Cambodia Vocational Training and Prosthetics Program Partnership with Exceed Worldwide providing prosthetic and orthotic devices, vocational training, and small business start-up support for young people with disabilities in Cambodia affected by landmines and conflict. In 2023-24, enabled over 800 prosthetic and orthotic device deliveries and 30 scholarships for POT students from 11 countries.
• Safe Play Project (Cambodia) Construction of safe play environments for children in post-conflict areas such as Battambang Province, Cambodia, providing mine risk education and protection from landmines and unexploded munitions.
• The Beautiful Game Tour A cycling initiative undertaken by trustee John Shiels to visit all 88 professional football clubs in England and 4 in Wales, raising awareness and funds for the Foundation's work while highlighting grassroots community football programs.
• Move for Ukraine Campaign Running and fundraising campaign supporting the Foundation's Ukraine programs, enabling supporters to participate in events like the Run for Hope Run for Ukraine.
• Race for Ukraine Campaign Fundraising campaign encouraging supporters to undertake races and personal challenges from local 10Ks to marathons, triathlons, and open-water swims to raise funds for Ukraine programs.
• Online Donation Portal Secure online donation facility enabling one-off and monthly donations, with options for preset amounts (£10, £15, £25, £50, £100) or custom amounts, processed through specialist payment providers.
• Newsletter Subscription Email newsletter providing updates on projects, latest news, and upcoming events. Subscribers receive an exclusive SBCF pin badge as a welcome gift.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ prosthetic and orthotic devices supplied to rural Cambodians in 2023-24
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Manchester United FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2024Long-standing partnership delivering Sir Bobby's Street Reds programme across 23 sites in Greater Manchester. Manchester United Foundation operates the free evening football sessions for children aged 8-18 in areas of social deprivation. The foundation funds these sessions and coordinates community engagement.
• FC Shakhtar DonetskcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024Partnership supporting the United Together programme in Ukraine, providing children affected by conflict with football training, mental health support, and safe play spaces. The foundation funds coaches, pitches, kits, balls, and on-site psychologists for sessions three times weekly in Zaporizhzhia.
• Arts Council EnglandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 December 2023Provided £95,000 grant for the LS Lowry 'Going to the Match' exhibition tour across North West venues. Foundation supported the partnership to engage refugee communities through football-themed art workshops.
• The LowryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 December 2023Partnership for the LS Lowry 'Going to the Match' painting tour, bringing the artwork to National Football Museum and other venues. Foundation partnered to celebrate Sir Bobby's favourite pastime and engage football communities.
• Exceed WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership since 2019 focusing on training Prosthetic and Orthotic Technicians and providing prostheses and orthoses to disadvantaged individuals in Cambodia. Foundation support has enabled 30 scholarships for POT students from 11 countries and approximately 500 devices annually. Phase Two includes vocational training and small business start-up grants for 15 young people with disabilities.
• National Football MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on community exhibition celebrating LS Lowry's 'Going to the Match' painting. Foundation partnered with four community groups including Ukrainian Refugee Group to create artwork reflecting football's meaning to them.
• University of GlasgowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership supporting pioneering bone-regeneration technique (BMP-2 protein and polymer) developed by Professors Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez and Matt Dalby. The technique, which saved Eva the dog from amputation, holds potential for helping landmine blast victims retain their limbs.
• HALO TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation previously worked with HALO Trust on mine clearance efforts. In 2021, the foundation issued a statement condemning the attack on HALO staff in Afghanistan.
• Gallery OldhamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst venue on LS Lowry 'Going to the Match' tour from December 2023 to February 2024.
• Grundy Art Gallery, BlackpoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSecond venue on LS Lowry 'Going to the Match' tour from March to April 2024.
• Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, BirkenheadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThird venue on LS Lowry 'Going to the Match' tour from April to July 2024.
• Bury Art Museum & Sculpture CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinal venue on LS Lowry 'Going to the Match' tour from October 2024 to February 2025.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Manchester United Foundation: The charitable arm of Manchester United, delivering football-based community and education programmes across Greater Manchester. Directly comparable as a football-club-affiliated charity delivering the Street Reds programme on behalf of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation, serving the same beneficiary population and geography.
• Common Goal: Football-led social impact organisation founded by Jürgen Griesbeck, uniting players, clubs, and foundations around sport-for-development. Comparable as a football-anchored philanthropic platform working on youth, equity, and community outcomes through the sport.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global sports-for-good foundation that supports community sports programmes tackling social issues. Sir Bobby Charlton's humanitarian journey began with Laureus visits to Cambodia, and Laureus directly connects the SBCF to the broader sports-for-good funding ecosystem, making it a closely comparable peer in mission and model.
• Right to Play: International NGO that uses sport and play to educate and empower children in disadvantaged communities. Direct counterpart in the international sport-for-development and child-protection space, working in conflict-affected regions like the SBCF.
• FC Shakhtar Social Foundation: Social responsibility arm of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, which is the foundation's Ukraine delivery partner on the United Together programme. Comparable as a football-club foundation delivering humanitarian and child-welfare services in conflict-affected Ukraine.
• HALO Trust: Mine-clearance NGO that has a documented prior partnership with the SBCF (including joint statements on staff attacks in Afghanistan). Direct peer in the landmine/UXO response space and a potential scale-up partner for the foundation's Safe Play and Cambodia work.
• War Child UK: UK-registered charity protecting children caught in conflict, with programmes in countries like Iraq and Uganda. Direct peer in mission (children affected by war), fundraising geography (UK), and services (psychosocial support, safe spaces), though not football-specific.

Emerging players

• StreetGames: UK charity bringing sport to young people in disadvantaged communities. Comparable to Street Reds in targeting deprived youth with sport-based interventions, but operating at a national rather than regional scale and without the celebrity/football-club anchor.

Broad incumbents

• British Red Cross: Large UK humanitarian organisation with international conflict response, refugee support, and rehabilitation programmes. Overlaps with the SBCF in donor demographic, UK charity market positioning, and conflict-affected beneficiary focus, but operates at dramatically larger scale.
• UNICEF UK: Large UK-based children's humanitarian organisation delivering child-protection programmes globally, including in conflict zones. Much larger scale, but overlaps in beneficiary population (children affected by conflict) and the broader UK donor pool the SBCF draws from.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SBCFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSllgLD_WFga4gU6SNoqZkw
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSBCFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thesbcfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/sirbobbycharltonfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation