The Premier League has launched a new mental health resource for children focused on how they can build their self-esteem.
The resource is available to more than 19,000 primary schools across England and Wales through the League's primary school education programme, Premier League Primary Stars.
Available for Children’s Mental Health Week, the free resource contains activities and content that encourage young people to build their resilience, try new things and use positive self-talk.
Alongside input from teachers and mental health experts, it features advice from 10 current Premier League players as well as former England internationals Theo Walcott and Jill Scott MBE.
The self-esteem resource launch comes as the Premier League celebrates 'More Than A Game', a two-week period showcasing the League's world-leading investment into all levels of football and community programmes run by clubs that positively impact millions of people.
To help launch the resource Walcott visited Christ the King & Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, located a mile from Emirates Stadium, to take part in a Premier League Primary Stars session run by his former club Arsenal and their charitable arm Arsenal in the Community, which this year is celebrating 40 years of supporting their local community.
There, he surprised schoolchildren, sharing his experiences with them and supporting them during their lesson.
"I was delighted to support the launch of this new Premier League Primary Stars education resource and share some of my own story," Walcott said.
"Football is a brilliant way of connecting with people, so I know the children the League and clubs reach with their range of community programmes will take these lessons forward.
"Having spent most of my career in the Premier League, seeing the connection between the on-pitch competition and the support it enables for people throughout the country is inspiring."
Engaging 1.3 million children in 2023/24 alone, Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of football to help young people be active and develop essential life skills.
There are almost 30 free resource packs for schools centred around wellbeing topics, which have been downloaded more than 75,000 times.
Walcott helped to launch the Premier League Primary Stars education programme in 2017. Now, with 87 per cent of all schools in England and Wales engaged, more than 70,000 teachers benefit from its free resources.
Premier League Primary Stars provides teachers with free downloadable resources across a range of curriculum subjects at Key Stage 1 (age 5-7) and Key Stage 2 (age 7-11), developed by teachers for teachers, and in collaboration with experts such as the National Literacy Trust and the PSHE Association.
Currently 103 professional football club charities from across the leagues receive Premier League funding to deliver Premier League Primary Stars sessions within local schools.
About Premier League Primary Stars
Premier League Primary Stars is the Premier League's primary school education programme, using the appeal of football to support children to be active and develop essential life skills. It is available to every primary school in England and Wales, with over 19,000 schools engaged with the programme. More than 1.3million school sessions and events have already been delivered.
Funded by the Premier League, through the Premier League Charitable Fund, the programme has enabled over 70,000 teachers to use resources for English, PSHE, PE and Maths, to help children to be active and develop essential life skills. There are 650+ free resources available.
To find out more about delivering the programme in your school, please visit plprimarystars.com.
