Bradford Youth Promote Mental Wellbeing Through Football Initiative

May 8, 2026 Off By

Local students take part in national Premier League Inspires Challenge

Young people from Bradford have recently participated in the Premier League Inspires Challenge, a national event that encourages 11 to 18-year-olds to develop life skills and social action projects through football. The event, held at Everton’s Hill Dickinson stadium, brought together hundreds of participants from across England and Wales.

Premier League Inspires programme supports young people

The Premier League Inspires Challenge is part of the wider Premier League Inspires programme, which aims to support young people who may be at risk of not reaching their potential during their education and transition into adulthood. The programme is delivered by 54 football club charities across the country, providing weekly sessions in secondary schools.

This season, participants were tasked with creating social action projects focused on supporting mental wellbeing among young people in their communities. Bradford City FC Community Foundation’s group took part in this initiative, with a team from Oasis Academy Lister Park winning their local heat for their project proposal.

Mental health and wellbeing project

The winning project from Oasis Academy Lister Park proposed the creation of a mental health and wellbeing room to serve as a drop-in support resource for students. Participants shared their ideas and discussed ways to provide mental health support within their school environment.

One participant, Omodebare, explained the motivation behind the project: “A lot of young people in our year do not have someone to talk to and there isn’t really anything that can assist them. A lot of young people lack confidence nowadays and we really want to build that as well as improving their social skills.”

Omodebare added that being involved in the project was rewarding: “I’m proud of the team, and proud of myself, because it’s almost like we’re saving lives. You don’t know what anyone could be going through and we’re helping a lot of young people in our school.”

Event and wider programme details

After winning their local heat, the Bradford participants attended the Premier League Inspires Challenge celebration event at Everton’s stadium in late April. The event provided an opportunity for young people to meet peers, share experiences, and celebrate their work on mental health initiatives.

Darcie Sugden-Brook, Premier League Inspires Coordinator at Bradford City FC Community Foundation, commented on the event and the young people’s involvement:

She expressed pride in the young people’s efforts to support mental health within their peer group.
She noted the value of the event in allowing participants to connect with others involved in the programme.
She thanked the Premier League Foundation and Everton in the Community for hosting the event and supporting young people in Bradford.

Alex White, Chief Executive of the Premier League Foundation, highlighted the programme’s focus on mental wellbeing, stating that the Challenge provides a platform for young people to promote positive mental health, break down stigma, and create supportive environments.

Partnerships and impact

The Premier League Inspires programme is delivered in partnership with Comic Relief, focusing on improving mental health for children and young people aged five to 18. The partnership aims to provide wellbeing tools, education resources, and life skills while addressing stigma.

Since beginning delivery in Bradford in October 2025, the Bradford City FC Community Foundation has supported over 80 young people through more than 600 sessions in four local schools.

Nationally, Premier League Inspires has reached more than 40,000 young people across England and Wales, providing over 135,000 hours of targeted support since its launch in 2019.