Aston Villa Foundation

The Foundation works closely with partners from a variety of backgrounds in Birmingham as well as supporting the wider ‘Aston Villa family’ to reflect the charity’s mission statement of “Working Together to Enrich Lives.” Previously known as “Villa in the Community” the club’s community arm began in February 1990, with Aston Villa legend Ron Wylie taking charge as Community Liaison Officer with three other staff members: Alan Thompson, Warwick Adams and Nigel Macrow. The four coaches went out into the community, working closely with local schools, starting up the Football in the Community programme and running coaching and ticket offers as part of their ‘matchday specials’. Villa in the Community was launched as the official club charity in July 2013, with the charity becoming the Aston Villa Foundation in 2016. Today, the Foundation employs over 80 staff across its seven departments, delivering over 40 projects and working with thousands of people from the age of 2-100 on a weekly basis.