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 Amy on amy.campbell@mfcfoundation.co.uk  or 01642 282128.

We were thrilled to celebrate another memorable afternoon as the Foundation took centre stage for the Men’s 2024/25 dedicated fixture.

Emblazoned at pride-of-place on the club shirts, thanks to a generous donation from Kindred Group, the official charitable arm of the club was at the heart of Boro’s latest EFL Championship fixture.

Participants from Premier League programmes Primary Stars, Inspires and Kicks, combined with Foundation-specific sessions Active Through Football (breaking barriers for sports participation), In Your Stride (walking football) and Roary’s Academy (aimed at 2–6-year-olds) for a plentiful parade of flag-wavers before kick-off.

One of those involved in the 160-participant walkaround was mascot Finley Atkinson, hand-picked from our Switch It programme for the honour of leading out the team alongside captain Hayden Hackney.

Children from St. Joseph’s Primary, one of our Primary Stars’ partner schools, completed the line-up for the 12.30pm tunnel walkout while pupils from Kader Academy and John Emmerson Batty Primary School, two schools where Foundation staff deliver the Joy of Moving programme, enjoyed half-time penalties in front of the South Stand.

In the stands, participants linked to our Warm Spaces programme (offering comfort and physical activities to members of the community) were the recipients of a kind offer from Tillicoultry Quarries, who donated the use of their hospitality box for 13 individuals.

Elsewhere, each member of the matchday squad was issued a Foundation-branded warm-up and playing shirt with signatures added to the items after the full-time whistle.

Not available for auction at present, the shirts will be utilised later in the season by the Foundation’s Events and Fundraising department. We will let supporters know how these can be obtained via our social media channels.

Thank you to everyone who played a part in making the Men’s Foundation game such a success.