Ahead of the Premier League Inspires Challenge celebration next week, we are looking at how the programme is supporting marginalised 11 to 25-year-olds to help them fulfil their potential.
Manchester City
For Kaya Anderson, not having the confidence to speak out was a barrier that prevented her from taking part in classroom discussions.
But now with the support of the Premier League Inspires programme and City in the Community, the charitable arm of Manchester City, Kaya has found her voice.
“My confidence, I feel like I have built that,” Kaya, a pupil at East Manchester Academy, tells the club’s official website. “I put my hand up to contribute to lessons now.”
PL Inspires, which is supported by the Professional Footballers Association and the Prince’s Trust, uses the power of football to help young people through the education system and early adulthood by sharing essential life skills.
PL Inspires in action
Aside from building confidence and positive mental wellbeing, the programme also focuses on improving engagement in education and awareness of careers.
“They’ve helped us in so many ways,” says pupil Paola Royale, pictured top, of the City in the Community staff. “We feel that we can communicate and it’s so much more comfortable to talk to them if something’s wrong.”
Find out more: Premier League Inspires
A typical City Inspires day consists of two to three hours in the classroom looking at topical issues and related curriculum before lunch, followed by a practical football-based session afterwards.
East Manchester Academy head teacher Jackie Bowen has noticed first-hand the impact of the scheme on her students.
“It has helped to reduce exclusions, improve attendance and [the pupils’] engagement with the wider school,” she says.
Pupil Lily Moore is an example of that.
“My behaviour used to be really bad,” she says. “Now I’ve started doing this (Inspires), I’ve started getting fewer detentions and behaving more in lessons because it’s just something to look forward to.”
