The Premier League and Professional Footballers'
Association
The Prince's Trust Football Initiative
is a long term partnership with the Premier League and Professional
Footballers’ Association which was launched by HRH The Prince of
Wales in 1997.
The Prince’s Trust first started working with football clubs
when it realised that the young people it needed to help the most
lived in the same inner city areas where many clubs were
located. 2012 marks the 15 year anniversary of the Football
Initiative, which is one of the longest-standing projects of its
kind.
The Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association's
continued support, along with over 65 professional football clubs,
has enabled the Trust to help over 18,000 young people through
football. This relationship with football is at the heart of The
Prince’s Trust strategy in helping young people change their
lives.
There’s nothing better, in football and in
life, than seeing a young person come through and make a success of
themselves against all the odds, and that’s why I feel very proud
that we are one of the most long-standing partners of The Prince’s
Trust.
- Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive, Professional Footballers'
Association
The partnership’s aims are:
➔ To extend the reach of
football to engage, motivate and improve the long term outcomes of
young people
➔ To use football to help
meet the challenges of recruiting young people to programmes from
the most hard to reach backgrounds, working with appropriate
partnership agencies
➔ To increase qualifications
earned and improve employment prospects
➔ Deliver programmes that
focus on quality of activity and strong outcomes for young
people
➔ Encourage opportunities in
volunteering as a recognised progression pathway for young
people
Mike's Story
Mike grew up in care, feeling lonely and
isolated during much of his childhood. At school, he faced bullying
on a daily basis which led him to start drinking and taking drugs.
Expelled from school as a result of his alcohol and drug misuse
Mike then became homeless and for the next few years he slept where
he could, with friends, in their cars or even on the street.
He had always loved sport so
when he heard about Get Started with Football he thought it was the
perfect opportunity to learn about coaching and do something more
positive with his time. As part of the course, Mike completed his
Level 1 football coaching qualification and immediately signed up
to volunteer as a football coach at a local football youth team.
Thanks to Mike’s hard work, he successfully secured employment at a
high profile security company.