Football club charities will provide individual mentoring to more than 2,800 young people under an expansion of Building Futures. The Premier League says its foundation and EFL in the Community will work through their charity network to support pupils in Years 8 to 10 across England.
The programme targets challenges associated with a greater risk of becoming outside education, employment or training later in life.
Weekly support over six months
Trained practitioners will deliver tailored one-to-one sessions lasting 45 to 60 minutes each week for six months. The aims include stronger engagement with education, improved wellbeing and higher aspirations.
Youth Futures Foundation leads Building Futures, with funding through the Dormant Assets Scheme awarded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Launched in 2024, it is expanding after a test-and-learn phase with Football Beyond Borders.
Power2, Youth Federation and St Giles Trust will each support another 565 young people. Together, the programme expects to reach 4,500 across England by April 2028.
Independent evaluation follows
The announcement cites an Office for National Statistics estimate of about 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 across the UK who are not earning or learning. Research links poor attendance, exclusion and low GCSE attainment with increased later risk.
The National Foundation for Educational Research will independently evaluate delivery, cost-effectiveness and outcomes. An impact evaluation begins in September 2027, examining attendance and other short- and medium-term results. The findings are intended to inform schools, policymakers, funders and delivery organisations as the expansion progresses.