Kicking Off Change: Premier League Kicks Promoting Engagement, Health, and Social Cohesion
Targeting young people in the local community, providing evening provision weekly, with a focus on engagement, and reducing anti-social behaviour. Through the power of football and sport this initiative promotes social cohesion, well-being, and healthy lifestyles, with educational workshops on relevant topics and social actions projects delivered throughout the year.
In 2025-2026, we engaged with 657 young people aged 8-18yrs in the local community, through sessions delivered in around the Barnsley borough, with our current sessions taking places at Astrea Dearne Academy, Goldthorpe. Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre, Cudworth, and right here at Oakwell, using our indoor training facility!
We work in partnership with organisations and stakeholders, and often receive additional funding to add to our delivery from the Police Crime Commissioner, Active Through Football, Violence Reduction Unit – receiving fantastic praise for the impact on reducing anti-social behaviour and improving community cohesion.
CONTACT : Jack.Stones@barnsleyfc.co.uk
Our current sessions
Monday
TUESDAY
Wednesday
Friday
Friday
Dorothy Hyman, Cudworth, S72 8LH
5-6pm 8-13 years
6-7pm 14-19 years
Outwood Academy Shafton, Engine Lane, S72 8RE
5pm-6pm
11-16 years
Barnsley FC Community Trust, Grove Street, S71 1ET
4:30pm – 5:30pm
8-16yrs
GIRLS ONLY!
Netherwood Academy, Wombwell, S73 8FE
5pm – 6pm
11-17 years
Astrea Dearne, Goldthorpe, S63 9EW
6:30pm – 7:30pm
(8-18 years) x 2 pitches
Our Premier League Kicks in Numbers 25/26 season
- 657 young people engaged
-
468 identifying as male
- 100% of participants feel safe within the programme
- 189 identifying as female
- 22 participants with disabilities
- 93.85% of participants over the age of 12 and over reported positive development
- 100% of participants under the age of 12 said they had improved skills and knowledge
- 215 young people engaged in workshops
- 127 young people engaged in at least one competition
- 95.38% of participants aged 12 and over said they now participate in more competitive sport and physical activity and feel their physical wellbeing has improved
Key Partnerships
Premier League Kicks and Its Lasting Legacy
With 167 young people engaging in competitions throughout the delivery year. Hosted at Oakwell, our venues monthly, Sheffield Wednesday, and making the trip to the National Competition at St. Georges Park.
Premier League Kicks uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential in some of the most high-need areas in England and Wales.
Formed in 2006 in partnership with the Metropolitan Police with the aim of involving young people in regular physical activity, to help create safer and more inclusive communities, today Premier League Kicks is delivered in partnership with police forces across England and Wales.
The flagship community programme also includes the girls and young women’s leadership programme, Premier League Changemakers.
To date, almost half a million participants have benefitted from their involvement in Premier League Kicks.
By engaging in constructive activities, including a wide variety of sports, coaching, music and educational and personal development sessions, communities up and down the country have been transformed with impressive football and sports participation rates and the authorities reporting significant reductions in anti-social behaviour in the areas in which it is delivered.
The programme started with four pilot projects, at Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Fulham and Brentford.
Today, 90 Premier League, EFL and National League clubs deliver sport and education sessions at over 700 venues in local communities where projects are needed most.
The scheme has enabled thousands of youngsters to find routes into education, training and employment with volunteering being a key component.
One of the key elements for the success of Premier Kicks is the workforce, with 20 per cent of the coaching and delivery staff being former participants, often hailing from the same area in which they are now working.
Premier League players who took part in Kicks as youngsters include Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and Wilfried Zaha.