Young people promoting positive mental well-being through the Premier League Inspires Challenge

Young people representing Foundation of Light joined hundreds from across England and Wales in this year’s Premier League Inspires Challenge celebration, a national event that uses football to empower 11–to-18-year-olds through life skills, mentoring, and social action.

The Challenge is one element of the Premier League Inspires programme, which supports 11–to-18-year-olds who may be at risk of not reaching their potential as they move through the education system and into early adulthood. The Premier League, through its Foundation, currently funds 54 football club charities to run Premier League Inspires sessions in secondary schools on a weekly basis.

This season, young people have been tasked with a social action project to come up with ways in which they would support young people’s mental wellbeing in their communities. Earlier this season, Foundation of Light representatives came together to share their project ideas with groups from Consett Academy. The students pitched their ideas in a heat format in order to progress to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to represent their school and the Foundation of Light.

The winning team developed a project which focused on giving young people a voice when it comes to changing the perception of how social media could be and should be used. The pupils have designed resources to be delivered to younger students in the hope that they use social media more wisely, are able to identify what is real and what is fake, and be able to create healthier and more realistic friendships and relationships.

Foundation of Light Community Cohesion Manager, Jake Leighton, said: “The Premier League Inspires Challenge is an integral part of our delivery calendar for Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Post-16 groups.

“It is vital that our programmes give young people a voice and an opportunity to help shape future delivery. This year’s group has grown in confidence, developed public speaking skills, and collaborated with other clubs during the national event at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.”

The focus on mental wellbeing aligns closely with the Premier League’s Inside Matters initiative, which highlights the League’s and clubs’ ongoing commitment to raising awareness of the topic and encouraging fans to check in on the wellbeing of others.

The Foundation of Light Premier League Inspires Challenge team also explored the positive work Sunderland AFC is already doing to support mental well-being, including mental health campaigns, collaborations with local organisations, and the Foundation’s work through the Game of II Halves project.

Having won their local heat, Foundation of Light participants joined hundreds of young people at the Premier League Inspires Challenge celebration event at Everton's Hill Dickinson stadium at the end of April.

Premier League Foundation Chief Executive, Alex White, said: “The Premier League Inspires Challenge gives young people a powerful platform to discuss and take steps to improve young people’s mental well-being within their communities. This year’s theme encourages participants to champion positive mental well-being, break down stigma and create supportive environments where everyone feels able to thrive.

“By taking part in Premier League Inspires, young people can strengthen their confidence and build valuable skills - from communication and planning to teamwork and resilience - as they design meaningful social action projects that promote healthier, happier communities.”

Alongside the participant-focused activities, mental health specialists and representatives from across the sport and charity sectors came together for a round table event. The discussion focused on the role of football club charities in supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing and was delivered by the Premier League and Premier League Foundation in partnership with Comic Relief.

The three-year partnership with Comic Relief is using the power of football to put children and young people aged five-to-18 at the heart of a nationwide push for better mental health by giving them access to practical wellbeing tools, education resources and essential life skills, while tackling stigma head-on.

Foundation of Light began its Premier League Inspires delivery in 2019 when the programme was introduced. Across England and Wales, Premier League Inspires has engaged more than 40,000 young people aged 11-to-18, supporting them to reach their potential in more than 1,000 education establishments across England and Wales.

To find out more about Premier League Inspires, please visit: www.premierleague.com