Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is starting a charity to help poor children and illness people. The foundation will run a series of events throughout the year, including a major fundraising event in Portugal in the summer, to “draw on Steven’s popularity and influence” to raise funds.

The foundation will focus its efforts on Gerrard’s home town, Liverpool, but will also operate throughout the UK and rest of the world.

Steven Gerrard says the foundation will enable him to make a “lasting difference” and he will be actively involved in its work by sitting on its grants analysis board, making a personal financial investment and visiting the charity projects.

It will be supported by the Consortium for Street Children and aims to provide additional funding for charitable organisations and projects such as the children’s hospice Claire House and young persons’ organisation Fairbridge.

The Steven Gerrard Foundation events will be developed by Sportcel Marketing.