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When Fin joined the Premier League Inspires programme back in January, his school attendance was at a worrying 41 per cent. Struggling to find motivation, he regularly missed or arrived late to school. This led to him falling behind in key lessons that only made it harder to catch up.

But since being selected to participate in Premier League Inspires, delivered in school by mentor Zack, Fin’s journey has taken a positive turn.

“Fin loves football and is a huge Forest fan,” says Zack. “Knowing he had Premier League Inspires sessions with me on Fridays gave him a reason to come in. We used that as a foundation to build something more lasting.”

Funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund, Premier League Inspires is a national schools-based programme designed to support young people facing barriers to learning, behaviour or wellbeing. At Outwood Academy in Kirkby, the programme has been used to target attendance. Fin is now one of its standout success stories.

Inspires sessions combine practical activities with real conversations. Through topics such as aspirations, resilience, and understanding consequences, Fin began to see his education as a route to future opportunities. Time was also made each week for a kickabout, something Fin particularly looked forward to.

Zack explains: “The balance was important. We had open chats indoors, built trust, and made space for football. That kept him coming back. He didn’t want to miss out.”

Crucially, school staff no longer need to carry out wellbeing checks or help get Fin out of the house. He now attends consistently across the week, motivated not just by football but by a stronger sense of responsibility and purpose.

In recognition of his progress, Fin was recently named the school’s Premier League Inspires Champion. He was awarded a certificate and a high street retail voucher. More importantly, he’s become a role model to other pupils facing similar challenges.

“We’ve seen a real change in Fin’s attitude and maturity,” says Zack. “He’s now someone other students look to as proof that things can turn around.”

As part of a term-end celebration, Fin joined fellow Premier League Inspires participants on a trip to Newark YMCA. He took part in art, fitness, football and tech-based activities, another moment of positive reinforcement in his journey.

Dawn Hornsey, Specialist Teaching Assistant at Outwood Academy Kirkby, says: “The intervention put in place by Zack has had a positive impact on the students. I’m part of the reading team, and we’ve seen an improvement in reading ages and attitudes toward learning, with some students improving by over a year. Whether it’s reading, attendance or behaviour, the students have benefitted from Zack’s patience, expertise and persistence.”

Fin’s improvement shows how structured support and consistent mentoring can help students get back on track and re-engage with school.

The Premier League Inspires programme, supported by mentors like Zack, is making a measurable difference for students like Fin. It is helping them attend more, participate more, and see the value of education.