Ahmed, an eight-year-old pupil at St Paul’s Primary School who is learning English, is the first member of his family to be born in the UK. Living with cerebral palsy, which affects his mobility in both his legs and arms, he often finds everyday tasks painful and tiring while also navigating the challenges of a new language.

Ahmed uses different modes of wheelchairs to help him carry out daily tasks that assist his movement, needing around the clock support to do this. Already receiving personalised support in school to help him steer school life, Ahmed also receives fine and gross motor skill support and help around his speech sound difficulties.

Cardiff City FC Community Foundation worked with St Pauls to deliver the Premier League Primary Stars programme, designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing of school children while building staff confidence in delivering P.E. lessons.

Funded by the Premier League through the Premier League Foundation, the programme uses the appeal of football to help children be active and develop essential life skills, perfect for helping pupils like Ahmed benefit from participating in group football.

The Foundation worked closely with St Pauls to design and tailor a delivery plan to target key areas for support. Multi-Sports Coach, Grace, who played a crucial role in Ahmed's development, worked with a number of year groups over a 6-week period, delivering a football focussed PSHE intervention helping children build resilience, teamwork, communication skills.

The Premier League Primary Stars programme also introduces a physical element to children’s learning, helping to boost their communication skills and overall confidence. Football being a universal language, these sessions improve English language skills when this presents an initial barrier to engagement in school.

This inclusive approach hasn't just boosted Ahmed's courage and self-esteem; Grace has shown to the wider group how disability isn't a barrier to participation in physical activity. Despite his mobility differences, Ahmed is a wonderfully resilient and positive individual with a brilliant sense of humour, and Grace helped champion these unique qualities.

With Grace's guidance, Ahmed has discovered a new love for football, now viewing PE sessions as an opportunity to use his ‘walker’ and run willingly alongside his peers, and no longer seeing it as an obstacle. This boost in participation also helped Ahmed strengthen his friendships on the pitch, finding real camaraderie in his school life.

Ahmed now eagerly looks forward to physical activity and is excited to introduce these adapted activities to other sessions as he moves through school. The positive feedback and encouragement he received from coaches and his peers instilled a newfound independence, empowering Ahmed to face his challenges more positively.

To celebrate Ahmed’s remarkable progress on the programme, the Community Foundation surprised him with a mascot experience at the Huddersfield fixture, a special moment where he met the players and walked out with the team.

Cardiff City FC Community Foundation are proud to provide safe and inclusive spaces for children like Ahmed to be independent, thrive, and be recognised.

In 2024/25, the Premier League Primary Stars programme made a significant impact across our partner primary schools in South Wales.

• 94% of pupils reported improved physical wellbeing.

• 91% showed more positive attitudes to learning.

• 95% reported increased confidence and self-esteem.

• 99% of teachers improved their skills, knowledge, and confidence in delivering PE and sport.

Grace Evans, Multi-Sport Coach at Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, said:

"It’s been incredible to watch Ahmed go from strength to strength in our Premier League Primary Stars sessions. I’m so proud, not just of Ahmed, but of the entire class, who all came together to make sure he was included and having fun in every session.

Football is for everyone, and seeing Ahmed enjoy the game and show his skills is such a joy."

Luke Jenkins-Jones, Premier League Primary Stars at Cardiff City FC Community Foundation said:

“Ahmed is everything Premier League Primary Stars represents - showing children of all abilities that they can have fun, grow in confidence, and develop important life skills.

He inspires all of us and truly reflects the warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment at St Paul’s Primary School. Watching him step onto the pitch with the squad was a beautiful moment, and he absolutely deserved it.”