Young people promoting positive mental well-being through Premier League Inspires Challenge
Young people representing Sheffield United Community Foundation 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, students from E-ACT Parkwood Academy came together to share their project ideas at Bramall Lane stadium, competing against teams from two other Sheffield teams. The winning team developed a project to raise awareness of eating disorders amongst young people, including delivering workshops to other students at their school during food technology lessons.
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 Sheffield United Community Foundation Premier League Inspires Challenge team also explored the positive work that the Blades are already doing to support mental well-being, including hosting weekly Talk Clubs.
Having won their local heat, Parkwood students 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.
Over the past four years, Sheffield United Community Foundation has been supporting young people in local schools through its Premier League Inspires delivery.
Nationally, more than 40,000 young people from across England and Wales have received more than 135,000 hours of targeted support through Premier League Inspires to date.
To find out about how Sheffield United Community Foundation can help your students by delivering Premier League Inspires at your school for the next academic year, please contact rob.jenkinson@sufc-community.co.uk