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

Young people representing Cardiff City FC 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, Eastern High School representatives came together to share their project ideas and presentations to a panel of coaches and Sports Business Management Degree students. The winning team developed a project on 'Mental Fitness' and developed ideas on how to exercise your brain positively in and outside the classroom.

Ross Branson, Secondary Education Coordinator at Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, said:

“We look forward to this challenge every year, and the students always get really stuck in. The winning group worked so hard, and it’s been a pleasure to see them rewarded with a celebratory event, especially at a brand-new stadium like Everton FC’s.

It’s so important to keep echoing the importance of having a healthy mind, especially for young people, and to continue reinforcing and prioritising mental wellbeing - as well as showing how this can be put into action.”

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 Cardiff City FC Community Foundation Premier League Inspires Challenge team also explored the positive work Cardiff City FC is already doing to support mental well-being, including campaigns, the launch of their new mental health and wellbeing strategy and new partnerships.

Having won their local heat, Eastern High School 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, chaired by Anneliese Midgeley MP. 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.

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