Burton Albion Community Trust hosts inspiring event alongside key partners to engage young people and promote safer communities.
Young people from Burton upon Trent and the surrounding areas came together for a successful SPACE Tournament hosted by Burton Albion Community Trust, delivered in partnership with the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire and funded through the Premier League Kicks Police Partnerships Fund.
The event brought together teams of young people for an afternoon of positive competition, team-building and personal development, while also providing important opportunities to learn about community safety and make meaningful connections with local policing teams. Working collaboratively with Stoke City Community Trust and Port Vale Foundation, the tournament showcased the power of sport to engage young people and create positive pathways within their communities.
Throughout the afternoon, officers and staff from East Staffordshire Local Policing Team were on hand to support the event and engage directly with participants. Workshops were delivered focusing on key issues affecting young people, including anti-social behaviour and knife crime awareness, encouraging open discussion and providing practical guidance on staying safe and making positive choices.
The event was also attended by Deputy Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Dave Evans, who met with participants, partners and local policing personnel, highlighting the importance of collaborative initiatives that help build stronger and safer communities.
The SPACE Tournament forms part of a wider commitment from partners to provide positive activities for young people, helping to reduce the risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour and crime while fostering confidence, teamwork and community engagement.
Ben Webster, Programmes Manager, from Burton Albion Community Trust added:
“We are delighted to have worked alongside the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, Stoke City Community Trust, Port Vale Foundation and East Staffordshire Police to deliver this fantastic event. The tournament not only gave young people the opportunity to enjoy football and develop new skills, but also enabled important conversations around community safety and personal responsibility.”
The success of the tournament reflects the shared commitment of all partners to creating safer, more resilient communities and ensuring that young people across East Staffordshire have access to positive, engaging opportunities that support their development both on and off the pitch.
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 £2 million.
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.
