Liverpool FC delivers UK ocean awareness initiative

Liverpool FC have delivered a World Oceans Day education initiative in the UK, bringing players into a local school to support coral conservation awareness.

Liverpool FC has carried out an environmental education activity with local school children to mark World Oceans Day, supported by AXA as part of the club’s sustainability programme, The Red Way. Players Alexander Isak, Curtis Jones, Sam Kerr and Beatta Olsson participated in a workshop delivered with the Tara Ocean Foundation, focusing on coral reefs and wider ocean ecosystems.

The session forms part of ongoing efforts within the UK to improve environmental awareness through sport-led community engagement.

The activity is linked to the club’s “Reds for Red” campaign, which highlights the impact of coral reef degradation caused by rising sea temperatures, pollution and human activity. A coral installation at Anfield has been used to illustrate different stages of reef health, from stable ecosystems to bleaching and decline, providing an educational resource connected to matchday audiences. The campaign aligns with Liverpool FC’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 14 on life below water, which is embedded within The Red Way strategy.

The initiative builds on previous work between Liverpool FC and AXA, including earlier campaigns aimed at increasing supporter awareness of environmental issues. It also reflects wider activity across elite sport, where clubs and governing bodies have introduced climate and biodiversity programmes in response to regulatory pressure and public awareness in the UK and internationally. Representatives from Liverpool FC, AXA and the Tara Ocean Foundation have previously contributed to discussions on ocean sustainability at the United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025.

In parallel, internal education programmes linked to the campaign have been delivered to club staff, covering biodiversity and the role of oceans in maintaining environmental stability.

Rishi Jain, Director of Impact at LFC, said, “Raising awareness across all areas of sustainability remains a key priority for the club. Through Reds for Red, and by working with AXA and the Tara Ocean Foundation, we’re using our global platform to shine a light on the urgent need to protect our oceans and the ecosystems they support. 

“This campaign builds on our focus on SDG 14 – ‘Life Below Water’ and marks a continued step forward as we continue our efforts to advocate and champion for the ocean as part of our wider efforts through The Red Way. We’re proud to continue this journey and to use the platform of football to inspire action and drive meaningful, long-term change.” 

Virginie Berçot, Brand Director at AXA, added, “By using the emotional and cultural power of football, drawing on the scientific knowledge brought by Tara Ocean Foundation and mobilising the collective energy carried by our three partners, this partnership enables us to share knowledge more widely and connect it to the crucial challenges of preserving life. Building bridges between researchers, athletes and the general public to spark lasting awareness and take concrete action in favour of protecting what matters is an approach we strongly believe in to reach as many people as possible.”