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Justice and Justin’s journey through primary school has been one of significant growth, both emotionally and behaviourally.

Thanks to their engagement with Nottingham Forest Community Trust’s delivery of Premier League Primary Stars, and the dedicated support of Primary Stars Lead Coach, Ben, both boys have made remarkable progress in managing their emotions, channelling their competitiveness positively, and making constructive choices.

Premier League Primary Stars is a nationwide initiative, funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund, that uses the power of football to inspire children to learn, be active, and develop essential life skills.

Delivered by professional football clubs, the programme offers engaging sessions that cover subjects such as English, Maths, PE, and PSHE, helping young people build confidence, resilience, and teamwork.

Nottingham Forest Community Trust plays a vital role in bringing this programme to schools across Nottinghamshire, positively impacting pupils like Justice and Justin.

As both Justice and Justin have moved through primary school, they have significantly developed as young individuals.

They are now more reflective, able to manage their emotions, and have a greater awareness of how their behaviour impacts others.

Both boys have successfully represented Nottingham Academy on the football pitch this year, something that might not have been possible two or three years ago.

They can both be very proud of who they are becoming, and the school shares in that pride.

A key factor in this transformation has been the role of Nottingham Forest Community Trust, particularly the mentorship provided by Ben.

His consistent presence and positive influence have helped Justice and Justin navigate challenges and develop vital life skills.

His relationship with the boys is evident in their daily interactions, as they enthusiastically greet him whenever he visits their school.

Mrs O’Rourke, Justin’s teacher, noted: “Justin really enjoys the opportunity to work alongside Ben each week.

“This acts as motivation for him to focus in class and achieve his best. As a result of working with Ben, he has also been able to develop a wider friendship network and I have seen him improve his ability to manage his emotions at the end of his social times.”

Similarly, Mr David, Justice’s teacher, praised his development: “Justice has been a real leader for our school football team this year.

“He has been able to strike a good balance between being competitive and carrying himself in the correct manner.

“Justice loves his sessions with Ben and speaks positively about him even when he [Ben] isn’t in school. I am very pleased with the progress Justice has made this year.”

Beyond the Primary Stars sessions, both boys also participate in Nottingham Forest Community Trust’s Premier League Kicks programme, which takes place at their school on Thursday evenings.

This additional engagement provides them with structured physical activity outside of school hours and reinforces the valuable lessons learned through Primary Stars.

Premier League-funded programmes like Primary Stars and Kicks seamlessly complement each other, ensuring sustained engagement and long-term impact for local young people.

By offering multiple touchpoints within both school and community settings, these initiatives provide consistent support, helping participants build confidence, resilience, and key life skills over time.