Premier League Kicks uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential in some of the most high-need areas in England and Wales.
Formed in 2006 in partnership with the Metropolitan Police with the aim of involving young people in regular physical activity, to help create safer and more inclusive communities, today Premier League Kicks is delivered in partnership with police forces across England and Wales.
The flagship community programme also includes the girls and young women’s leadership programme, Premier League Changemakers.
To date, almost half a million participants have benefitted from their involvement in Premier League Kicks.
By engaging in constructive activities, including a wide variety of sports, coaching, music and educational and personal development sessions, communities up and down the country have been transformed with impressive football and sports participation rates and the authorities reporting significant reductions in anti-social behaviour in the areas in which it is delivered.
The programme started with four pilot projects, at Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Fulham and Brentford.
Today, 90 Premier League, EFL and National League clubs deliver sport and education sessions at over 700 venues in local communities where projects are needed most.
The scheme has enabled thousands of youngsters to find routes into education, training and employment with volunteering being a key component.
One of the key elements for the success of Premier Kicks is the workforce, with 20 per cent of the coaching and delivery staff being former participants, often hailing from the same area in which they are now working.
Premier League players who took part in Kicks as youngsters include Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and Wilfried Zaha.