Everton Women’s star Katja Snoeijs spends time with Alfie’s Squad participants 

Everton Women’s star Katja Snoeijs headed to Everton in the Community’s Liverpool 4 campus recently to find out more about bereavement support for young people across Liverpool City Region. 

The Blues striker spent time with participants from Alfie’s Squad, a weekly programme set up in partnership with Everton in the Community, which provides tailored support for young people aged six to 17-years-old who have been bereaved by suicide or self-inflicted death.  

Hosted at the charity’s purpose-built mental health and wellbeing hub, The People’s Place, Snoeijs got hands on in a t-shirt painting workshop delivered by local art therapy expert Gemma Longworth, with the session giving participants the opportunity to express their emotions positively through art.  

During her visit, the Dutch international put her unique stamp on the t-shirt designs whilst hearing from the young people about their personal journeys and how Alfie’s Squad has had a beneficial impact on their mental health, before handing out tickets for Everton Women’s upcoming Merseyside derby against Liverpool Women on Sunday 24 March.  

Reflecting on the session, Katja Snoeijs said:

“It’s always great to get out in the community and meet participants from the charity’s programmes, but visiting this session was especially humbling. I’m so grateful that many of the young people as well as their parents and guardians felt comfortable sharing their personal stories with me – it’s been a really moving evening.

“It was special spending some one-on-one time with them all and witnessing first-hand the close bonds that they’ve built with each other in such a short space of time. It’s incredibly important that these young people have access to this service; it’s clear to see that it benefits them massively and gives them a safe space where they feel understood and can open up about their experiences.” 

Commenting on Katja’s visit, Alfie, Founder of Alfie’s Squad added:

“We’re so grateful that Katja took the time to come and visit Alfie’s Squad, all the children really enjoyed meeting her and she’s welcome back anytime.” 

Made possible thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of 15-year-old Alfie, who sadly lost his own father to suicide in 2017 and subsequently launched Alfie’s Squad in 2019. Facilitated by the Club’s official charity, the young Evertonian has since developed a bespoke programme to help support other bereaved children across Merseyside based on his own needs and lived experience.  

Having fundraised more than £50,000 to date, Alfie continues to contribute towards the sustainability of the project, including an upcoming shark dive this springtime – where Alfie and 12 of his fellow participants as well as three of their parents and guardians will take part, with all monies raised channelled into developing the programme. 

It is estimated that more than 9,000 children across the UK lose a parent or primary caregiver to suicide every year and Alfie’s Squad aims to ensure that they can receive support that is not currently widely available to them, with it being the only peer support group for children bereaved by suicide in the UK. The sessions give participants access to a variety of positive engagement activities whilst receiving peer-to-peer support from a close-knit group of likeminded young people.  

To find out more about Alfie’s Squad and register your interest in the weekly sessions, click here.

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