Burton Albion Community Trust announces a new community project that aims to build stronger connections between professional football clubs and their local police forces.
In collaboration with Stoke City Foundation and Port Vale Foundation, Burton Albion Community Trust has received £32,000 from the Premier League, match funded by Staffordshire Police to deliver opportunities for young people who are at risk of anti-social behaviour and youth violence to regularly engage in football, sport, mentoring and personal development opportunities.
By providing safe, inclusive and inspiring environments, the project will help participants to build confidence, develop positive relationships and access meaningful opportunities.
The Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, said: “Partnerships between community groups and the Police can break down barriers, build confidence and create a safer, more inclusive environment for young people.
“I’m pleased to see Space funding being used to invest in early intervention and to help steer young people away from anti-social behaviour.
“I hope that the children enjoy the sessions during the school holidays and throughout the rest of the year.”
Ben Webster, Programmes Manager from Burton Albion Community Trust said: “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Stoke City Foundation, Port Vale Foundation and the Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver the Premier League Kicks Police Partnerships programme.
“This initiative highlights the power of football to bring communities together, providing free, safe and inclusive sessions in targeted areas where they are needed most.
“By working collectively, we can engage young people in positive activities, build trust and support safer communities across Staffordshire.
“Burton Albion Community Trust is proud to play its part in creating opportunities that inspire, develop and connect local young people.”
Stoke City Director of Community Engagement Laura Nicholls said: “Stoke City Foundation has been successfully running Premier League Kicks sessions for a number of years and has supported many local young people during this time.
“We are delighted, ahead of the programme’s 20th anniversary season, to have received this additional funding and the opportunity to make a further impact that brings.
“The programme aligns perfectly with the values of the Foundation as we strive to support our local community towards healthier lives, improved wellbeing and becoming more connected.”
Gemma Finney from Port Vale Foundation said: “Port Vale are really excited at the opportunity to work collaboratively with Stoke City, Burton Albion and the Police and Crime Commissioners’ team on this project.
“The free football sessions in the locally targeted areas give the youth community a chance to play free football weekly and be part of wider projects including tournaments over the summer.
“We are hoping that, through these sessions, the participants will engage with the wider community projects that the football clubs offer.”
Burton Albion Community Trust is one of 49 professional football club charities across England and Wales to receive a share of £900,000 in Premier League funding to develop Police Partnerships projects with their local police forces, aimed at strengthening community relationships and reducing the risk of reoffending.
Premier League Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer Clare Sumner CBE said: “The Premier League has a long-standing commitment to working with local police forces to create positive opportunities for young people in communities across the country. We are delighted to build on this partnership, expanding our reach to provide even more support and positive interventions for those who need it most.”
The Premier League investment is match funded by police forces, alongside additional contributions from statutory partners including Violence Reduction Units and Police and Crime Commissioners. Together, this brings the total investment into local communities to more than £2million.
Through this funding, club charities will work with their local police forces to inspire young people to reach their potential, providing them with positive opportunities which divert them away from possible involvement in anti-social behaviour, crime and youth violence.
The projects have been co-designed by football club charities and police forces to deliver meaningful, targeted interventions for young people. These include one-to-one mentoring for young people at risk of criminal exploitation, as well as programmes designed to rebuild trust between police and communities. Activities will also address key issues such as anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and knife crime.
Delivery will take place through Premier League Kicks, the Premier League’s longest-standing community programme that recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary and provides young people with access to free weekly football and multi-sport sessions, mentoring and education workshops.
This latest investment from the Premier League and police forces builds on the 2023-2025 Police Partnerships Pilot, through which the Premier League and police forces jointly invested more than £1million into local communities.
To find out more, please visit www.premierleague.com
