Premier League Kicks began as a pilot project in London between the Premier League and the Metropolitan Police in 2006, with the aim of using football to bring communities together and engage with young people.

Kicks uses the power of football and appeal of professional football clubs brands from the Premier League and Football League to engage young people who may otherwise be difficult to reach in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

The vision is to ‘build safer, stronger, more respectful communities through the development of young peoples’ potential.’

Kicks works closely with partnerships such as Youth services, local councils, the Police, Green Sky Fitness and ‘Prison? Me? No Way!’ to help raise aspirations of the young people that attend, and encourage them to make the right choices in the community.

All of the PL Kicks coaches are F.A qualified, however the programme isn’t exclusively about football. We offer a variety of different active such as: kick boxing, street dance, graffiti art workshops and prison van workshops to name a few.

Further to these activities, Kicks gives the young people who attend the choice to choose what activities they would like to take part in through an initiative called PL Youth Voice. The initiative is designed to get young people to share their ideas and experiences to not only aid their learning, but the learning of their peers too.

The young people who attend Kicks on a regular bases and have a good attitude are given rewards, and are invited to various trips across the year. These include regular trips to the Middlesbrough FC first team games, playing against other Kicks teams from professional clubs such as Sunderland, Stoke and Leicester, and trips to theme parks like Flamingo Land.

The tournaments are designed to break down barriers between different wards across Teesside, bringing all sites together and allowing them to socially mix with other young people they have never met. It also gives them a sense of pride that they are representing their area in national competitions.

Premier League Kicks also raises the aspirations of young people in the most deprived areas across Teesside with qualifications, such as ‘Junior Football Leaders Awards’ and’ FA Level One Coaching Awards’ across different sports. There are also volunteer opportunities which have led to casual paid hours on the Kicks program. The coaches build up a strong positive bond with the young people, becoming role models, and always reinforcing that they can achieve anything if they put their mind to it.

For more information contact Liam on Liam.watson@mfcfoundation.co.uk or 01642 757674

In recognition of the Riverside celebrating its 25^th birthday, the club have commissioned a commemorative shirt and the Foundation’s logo will be proudly displayed on it.

Unlike last season where we were shirt sponsor for one game against QPR, the name of MFC Foundation will be on Boro’s third shirt every time it is worn this season. It will be seen for the first time when Boro take on Cardiff City on Saturday.

The shirt is worn here by participants of some of the programmes we run. Kevin lost 28 pounds during a course of male FIT BORO sessions, Nusrat’s physical and mental well-being improved during the female FIT BORO sessions. Hazel represents Football Welcomes, a programme that brings together multiple nationalities, Abdullah’s journey through that programme has moved on through volunteering and is now in a Traineeship programme, while Nick has been with us as long as the stadium itself, we thank him for 25 years sterling service as a volunteer.

“It is an honour for the Foundation to be on a very special shirt,” says Helena Bowman, head of the Foundation. “This is an historic season for the club and the Riverside and for us to be part of that history is humbling.

“We must thank the Kindred Group for donating their sponsorship space to us and allowing the Foundation logo, a badge of honour for us, to be on a unique shirt and help raise our profile. This means so much to us.”

Boro’s commemorative shirt launched on Friday October 23 2020

Helena continues: “To think it is already 25 years since the club moved into a new home. They have faced many challenges in that time. We too face challenges like we have never faced before.

“We are living in difficult and demanding times, but we are doing all we can to reach out to those in need, to provide help, to inspire confidence in communities and provide hope for individuals.

“Our mission is simple, by harnessing the passion and power of the club brand, we work to raise aspirations and improve the life chances of young people and adults across Teesside.

“We work in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Teesside. We engage with those who need our support through the delivery of inspiring sport, education, health and inclusion projects.

“We’re very proud of what we do as a Foundation and we hope Teesside is proud of us.”

Middlesbrough Football Club and MFC Foundation working together at the very heart of YOUR community.