Premier League Inspires Project
At Hollyfield we are proud to work with Fulham Football Club Foundation - running the Premier League Inspires Programme. We have been working in collaboration since September 2021.
Background Information
The Premier League Inspires Project is a nationwide programme that uses the popularity of the Premier League and football to engage students in school and help them develop the personal skills and positive attitudes to succeed in life.
Through the programme the students gain the “Achieve” award from the Princes Trust, which involves many different modules and students build on many transferable skills that they will be able to put on their CV. It is a practical award, with lots of group activities, research tasks, presentations, and group discussions.
They run several workshops throughout the year aimed to tackle issues that are facing young people today, some examples have been around:
> Making positive choices around alcohol and substance misuse
> Money management
> Raising awareness around sexual health
> Careers in football
> Raising awareness around mental health
Watch the link below to see our student talk about mental health:
https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/june/15/Mental-Health-Awareness-At-Premier-League-Inspires/
Here is our students have reported:
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89% of students agreeing that it had improved their self confidence and self esteem
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94% saying that they had gained new skills and knowledge
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90% strongly agreed it had improved their wellbeing.
“It’s taught me a lot about teamwork and having clear communication. I feel more confident speaking in front of people now”
“I’ve really enjoyed all the people coming in to do workshops, it’s always active learning which helps me focus”
“We’ve learned about the skills that will help us get a job in the future, and researched different careers in football which was really interesting”
By Mark Orlovac1 Oct 1972
Find out what happened when a team of students from south London engaged with residents of a local care home as part of the Premier League Inspires Challenge.
'PL Inspires Challenge has allowed us to have a positive impact on others'
Evan's story: How Premier League Inspires has helped my mental health
'PL Inspires is the best thing that could have happened to these girls'
When three students from the Hollyfield School in south London began the Premier League Inspires Challenge last year, little did they know the impact their social action project would have on them as well as their local community.
The Hollyfield team of Lola, Azaria and Hattie were invited to take part in the Challenge by the Fulham FC Foundation and, tasked with formulating an idea to raise mental health awareness in their local communities, they came up with 'Fulham Support' - a programme that involves going into local care homes to support elderly residents, engaging them in activities and keeping them company.
'PL Inspires Challenge has allowed us to have a positive impact on others'
As part of the Challenge, which empowers participants to take on a social action project and make a difference to the world around them, the trio joined 44 other teams from across the country at a celebration event at Wembley Stadium. While there, they were able to meet other young people on the Premier League Inspires programme and to present their ideas.
And we caught up with the three students to find out what the programme means to them.
Azaria
"We had a lot of ideas and after doing our research, we all came to a conclusion that it would be good to do something with elderly people because a lot of them are lonely and feel like no-one's really looking out for them.
"Then when we got to meet the residents, it was an amazing experience, because we got to learn about what they used to do when they were our age. They were really funny and cheeky. It was just great to hear all of their jokes and make them happy, it was really nice seeing them smiling. I was smiling as well because I was very happy.
"Seeing their reaction, I felt that maybe I can do something like this as a job. Seeing people smiling because of me and my friends because of the idea that we had, I felt like I had accomplished something amazing.
"When I was in Year 7, I moved from a different school and I would frequently get into trouble. I didn't know anyone and I saw what other people were doing and thought I should be the class clown to fit in as well. I was put forward to work with Fulham Foundation and Premier League Inspires to help me improve my behaviour.
Premier League Inspires: How young people are leading mental health conversations
Find out what happened when students came together at Wembley Stadium to share their social-action projects on mental health.
"After I joined Fulham Foundation, my behaviour started changing, I wouldn't get into trouble so much. I was being recognised for being well behaved rather than being badly behaved. I was the girl that changed her behaviour.
"I'm very, very proud and I'm very proud of all the other girls, because I know they went through stuff as well; we've come together and we've helped each other.
"Premier League Inspires is an amazing experience. There's no need to be scared or feel like you're not worth it or to feel like all you do is make mistakes. You should be brave, you should be confident and you should believe in yourself.
"Hopefully I can inspire other people, that they will look at me and see what I am like now. I am proud of myself that I can be a figure for others that have been going through the same situation as me, and that I could make a change.
"I want to be a psychologist when I'm older and without Premier League Inspires, I wouldn't have the communication skills needed and my dream would have probably been just thrown away. This project has done a lot for me."
Hattie
"We wanted to address the fact that some elderly people have no-one. Developing the idea was fairly straightforward but at first, I think we were all a bit nervous going into the care homes because we've never done it before.
"But when we were there, we were a bit more relaxed. They were so welcoming and we realised that they just wanted to talk. They could just talk to us.
"We painted letters, we painted rocks and we went on a walk. We talked to them about their lives, their jobs. They loved talking to us.
"Seeing their responses made me feel better about myself; knowing that they could talk to me because they wouldn't have that many people to talk to normally. It's a special feeling knowing that we had this impact on others. At first I didn't really want to do it but by the end, I realised how much fun it is.
"I've changed. I've become more independent and confident. If you had told me 18 months ago that we would have done all this, I wouldn't have believed you. I am so glad I have done something like this.
"Being part of the Fulham Foundation means a lot because not that many people have a chance like this, especially at my age. It is a really big opportunity.
"Premier League Inspires has made me a better person. It made me realise that although I have lots of people to talk to, some people don't and they need that company."
Lola
"We came up with the idea of going to care homes and speaking with the residents because when you think about mental health, you think about younger people. We thought it would be good to involve people who are older as their needs are the same.
"It was scary going into the care home for the first time as they're people that I have never met. I didn't know what they would be like. They came across really nice and very chatty. They were happy that we were there and that made me happy.
"It made me feel like we did a good job and that they appreciated our time. It made me feel wanted. It was really nice.
"We were hearing their stories which was really interesting. You never hear many stories about the war from the people that were there, unless you are in a history class. It was fantastic to get to know a bit about their past and then they got to know a little bit about mine.
"Hearing their stories made me feel special because I don't feel like they would say those things to anybody.
"I couldn't have imagined what we'd done. I am proud of myself. It's the best thing I have achieved.
"Before I joined Premier League Inspires, I wouldn't go anywhere with the teachers. I wouldn't go on trips and I wouldn't do anything else. It's helped me make friends and it's made me a more confident and happier person.
"I would say to anyone to get involved. It's a really fun opportunity. The programme has taken me to places where I've had to speak to people and every time I gained more confidence. I am more likely to put myself forward to do things now.
"I've wanted to be a detective for a long time but I had doubts that I would be able to do it because I don't socialise well. But this has given me confidence, now I think I can do it."