Premier League Inspires is an education programme, newly introduced in 2019, developed by The Premier League and professional football clubs.

The programme is aimed at young people aged between 11-25 and brings together learnings from previous PL programmes such as PL Enterprise and PL Works, as well as the Prince’s Trust Achieve course and Sports Leadership qualifications.

The challenges presented today evolve at pace, with young people, more than ever before, experiencing mental health issues, together with social, emotional and personal difficulties. Teachers and practitioners in secondary schools and the education sector face multiple pressures and each school has differing priorities, including an approach to pastoral care, behaviour management and emotional support.

The Premier League Inspires programme uses the appeal of the Premier League and Middlesbrough Football Club to support local 11-16 year olds who are marginalised or at risk of not reaching their potential; supporting them as they move through the education system and early adulthood.

For more information contact Matt on Matthew.kirk@mfcfoundation.co.uk or 01642 282128.

SHAYGAN is from Iran. His story as a 20-year-old began with MFC Foundation around April 2019 as a participant in our Football Welcomes programme, the very same programme we are highlighting today, the EFL’s Day of Action.

The programme is an initiative to create a more welcoming community for those seeking refuge and asylum. He hadn’t been in the country long before he started attending sessions.

A keen student of football, Shaygan began volunteering on the Football Welcomes programme organising warm-ups, cool downs and various other activities for the participants. He also assisted in getting teams together for regular tournaments against other programmes and indeed Foundations from across the country. Other roles during this time included being an interpreter for coaches for participants from Iranian, Kurdish and Afghan backgrounds.

Upon gaining his status in the country Shaygan was able to sign up to the MFC Foundation traineeships programme. As part of his as well as gaining a number of qualifications based around football such as Sports Leader, First Aid and Safeguarding he also completed 100hrs work experience. The work experience involved him getting knowledge of a number of different programmes the Foundation deliver across the Tees Valley area.

His journey continued when he gained employment with the organisation. After completing his traineeship, he was successful in getting a 20hr a week contract as a Business Support Worker. This involved him being part of the day to day running of the MFC Foundation Herlingshaw Centre as well as assisting on many of the different programmes the Foundation delivers.

Shaygan’s next calling has taken him to London and occasional work with Amnesty UK and Fulham. But he never forgets where his new life started.