The West Ham United Foundation, supported by headline sponsor Paragon and backed by the Premier League, celebrated another milestone as its annual Gala Dinner & Awards returned on
Wednesday, 10 December 2025. Held at the historic Mansion House, the event brought together players, partners, community leaders, and supporters for a night of inspiration, recognition, and fundraising.
Hosted by the newly appointed Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley DBE, and presented by former West Ham player and broadcaster Scott Minto, the evening highlighted the Foundation’s transformative work across east London and beyond. Guests enjoyed fine dining, live entertainment, and powerful testimonies from participants whose lives have been positively impacted by the Foundation.
The event also marked a year of significant growth for the Foundation, highlighted by the official opening of its new community hub, The Foundry, in Beckton. The Foundry is set to expand the Club’s community reach, enabling West Ham to engage more than 60,000 people annually through 35 tailored programmes. The hub is projected to deliver £75 million in social value over its first five years.
A star-studded guest list included Men’s First Team Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo, captain Jarrod Bowen, midfielder Tomáš Souček, Women’s Team Head Coach Rehanne Skinner, players Verena Hanshaw and Amber Tysiak, Joint-Chair Vanessa Gold, Club Ambassadors Anton Ferdinand, Matt Jarvis, Marlon Harewood, and British wheelchair tennis star Andy Lapthorne MBE. Foundation Ambassador Bobby Seagull and actor and long-time supporter Ray Winstone were also in attendance. Guests heard first-hand how the Foundation’s programmes continue to provide hope, opportunities, and practical support to those who need it most.
The evening featured the presentation of eight Foundation Awards, supported by Rainbow, Shawbrook Bank, and Teesside University London, honouring outstanding achievements across the community. Recipients included young participants, dedicated partners, inspiring service providers, exceptional fundraisers, and individuals making a tangible difference locally. First team players, managers, and Club Ambassadors presented the awards and later engaged guests in a lively Q&A session. Attendees also participated in live and silent auctions, with all proceeds directly supporting the Foundation’s programmes at The Foundry and across east London.
Stories shared during the evening underscored how The Foundry is enabling the Foundation to reach more people, more often, and provide deeper, more meaningful support. With the new hub now operational and the Foundation’s reach expanding, 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for West Ham United’s community initiatives.
CEO of the West Ham United Foundation, Joseph Lyons said: “The Gala Dinner for me is about the recognition and validation for our Foundation. I want to thank the Lady Mayor, Dame Susan Langley for hosting us at Mansion House. The Lady Mayor believes in our social impact and going forward we want to build on our relationship with the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and are excited about the opportunities this will open up for us.
“Another big thank you goes to all of our guests this evening. The atmosphere has been brilliant, and their generosity has helped raise vital funds that will support our work through The Foundry, and enable us to continue to respond to urgent needs during what is already proving to be a harsh winter.”
Men’s First Team Captain, Jarrod Bowen shared his thoughts on the night: “It’s a huge honour to come to the Foundation’s Gala Dinner & Awards Night and celebrate their success. The work that the Foundation delivers is life changing and the impact it has on people’s lives is only a good thing. This Club prides itself on being a family and we want to continue and grow that.”
Women’s Team player, Verena Hanshaw said: “Feels so incredible to come here and I feel proud and honoured to hear about the work the Foundation do. It is super important that people are recognised for their great work. These are the people we need to make the world a better place, and I really feel the community spirit, it doesn’t matter where I go the supporters care about each other and that makes it very special.”
The Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley said: "One of the great things about becoming the Lady Mayor is being able to champion incredible organisations like the West ham United Foundation. And it's not just because I am a West Ham United fan, they are giving back and investing in their community with education, training and grass roots support which is everything that’s good about this City. I look forward to continuing to support the Foundation throughout my mayoral year and beyond."
Actor and lifelong Hammer, Ray Winstone fresh from being awarded the Freedom of the City said: “I came last year to the Foundation Gala Dinner and Awards night, and I am really impressed with what the Foundation do, so I am really honoured to be here this year. This event is growing every year, and it’s supported by the players, supported by the fans and the Foundation is for people in the local community and that is always a good thing.”
Mollie Tree, a Foundation coach and a role model for the girl’s player pathway programme, won the Rising Star Award, she said: “I knew I was expecting a great evening because everything to do with West Ham is always great, but I certainly was not expecting this (award). Most definitely shocked, but I am so proud and happy that I won. It means so much to me especially being in my third year of University and I know I put so much hard work into what I do, and to have that being recognised is a privilege and I feel so honoured to receive this award.”
The Gala Dinner & Awards once again demonstrated the collective strength of the West Ham family - with businesses, supporters, players and partners uniting to help shape a brighter future for local people. The event was also supported by headline sponsor Paragon, having partnered with the Foundation for more than four years. Paragon’s sponsorship of the event for a second successive year is the latest incredible show of commitment in continuing to play an instrumental role in supporting a wide range of the Foundation’s community initiatives across east London and beyond. Paragon’s continued support has allowed the Foundation to achieve some remarkable milestones, raising funds to help transform the lives of others.
For more information about the West Ham United Foundation or to support its work, visit www.whufc.com/en/the-club/community/foundation.