Four young people from Burnley FC in the Community’s Premier League Inspires programme have successfully brought their award-winning social action project to life, delivering a fun-filled Mental Wellbeing Day for pupils at Shuttleworth High School.
Earlier this year, the group developed their ‘Proud to be You’ project as part of the Premier League Inspires Challenge, which encourages young people to create positive change within their communities. Their idea focused on promoting positive mental wellbeing, celebrating individuality and creating supportive environments where young people can thrive.
From Premier League Inspires project to school-wide event
After winning Burnley FC in the Community’s local Challenge heat and representing the charity at the Premier League Inspires Challenge celebration event at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, the group turned their vision into reality with a whole-school event held at Shuttleworth High School during the summer term.
A day of activities promoting positive wellbeing, confidence and inclusion
Planned and organised by the young people themselves, the day gave pupils the opportunity to take part in a packed programme of activities designed to encourage participation, boost confidence and promote positive wellbeing.
Throughout the day, pupils enjoyed football, rounders, baking, karaoke, STEM sessions, science experiments and a wide range of other fun challenges and team-building activities. The diverse programme encouraged teamwork, creativity and problem-solving, while giving pupils the chance to try something new and strengthen connections with their classmates.
The day concluded with a whole-school obstacle course on the playing fields, bringing everyone together for a memorable finale. Pupils then took part in a ‘Sponge Your Teacher’ challenge, which proved to be a huge hit and rounded off the day with plenty of laughter and smiles.
The event was the culmination of months of hard work from the Premier League Inspires participants, who took the lead on developing ideas, planning activities and creating an engaging experience for their fellow students.
As part of their wider ‘Proud to be You’ project, the group has also introduced several initiatives around school to support positive mental wellbeing, including a worry jar, a confidence mirror featuring positive affirmations and wellbeing-focused resources for pupils.
A spokesperson from Burnley FC in the Community said:
“We are incredibly proud of the four young people who worked so hard to bring their ‘Proud to be You’ project to life. From developing the original idea to planning and delivering a whole-school event, they have shown fantastic commitment, leadership and teamwork throughout the process.
“The success of the day is a testament to their hard work and the positive difference they wanted to make for their fellow pupils. They should be extremely proud of everything they have achieved.”
Everyone at Burnley FC in the Community is incredibly proud of what the young people have accomplished through the Premier League Inspires Challenge. Their dedication, creativity and commitment have helped create a lasting legacy within their school while demonstrating the positive impact young people can have when given the opportunity to lead change.
The success of the Mental Wellbeing Day reflects the core aims of Premier League Inspires, which uses the power of football to help young people develop confidence, teamwork, communication and leadership skills while making a positive difference in their communities.
By identifying an important issue, developing a solution and delivering a school-wide event, the group has demonstrated exactly what can be achieved through the programme and should be immensely proud of everything they have accomplished.
To find out more about Premier League Inspires, please visit: Football Community Programme – Premier League Inspires