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To celebrate the Premier League’s More Than A Game campaign this season, we’re exploring the profound impact of Premier League-funded programmes in our community—reaffirming that football is more than just a game.

Since the start of the academic year, Nottingham Forest Community Trust has been delivering Premier League Kicks sessions at Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA) in Bilborough.

Premier League Kicks forms an integral part of the Trust’s commitment to engaging young people through sport, nurturing inclusivity, and encouraging personal development.

Premier League Kicks, funded by the Premier League through the Premier League Charitable Fund, uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential in some of the most high-need areas in England and Wales.

Launched in season 2006/07, Nottingham Forest Community Trust is one of 93 professional football club community organisations across England and Wales delivering Premier League Kicks.

The programme supports young people in regular, positive and fun activity while helping to create stronger, safer, more inclusive communities.

Nottingham Forest Community Trust began its Premier League Kicks delivery in 2006 and during the 2023/24 season, engaged 1330 young people through at 10 venues.

These efforts have not only helped develop participants’ levels of physical activity but have also contributed to creating stronger, safer, and more inclusive communities.

Nottingham Forest Community Trust’s delivery of Premier League Kicks offers a diverse range of activities, with football at its core.

In a move to broaden opportunities, Nottingham Forest Community Trust has partnered with Nottingham Forest Netball to deliver netball coaching for both boys and girls.

This collaboration ensures that participants can explore and develop skills in multiple sports, promoting teamwork, confidence, and a healthy lifestyle.

A recent highlight of the programme at NUSA was the visit of Nottingham Forest first-team players Willy Boly and Taiwo Awoniyi and Nottingham Forest Netball Head Coach Chelsea Pitman.

The special guests joined in with both football and netball sessions, participated in a Q&A session, and posed for selfies with excited participants – with Willy and Taiwo providing the young people with some impressive football skills!

Chelsea offered netball coaching tips and words of encouragement to participants and even guided Boly and Awoniyi as they tried their hand at netball for the first time.

One participant said: “I love coming to these sessions because I get to try new things like netball.

“I love football and at first, I wasn’t sure I’d like netball but after trying it, I really like it.

“Meeting the players was so cool.

“It was good when they were playing football with us and then I got to have a selfie with them at the end, I can’t wait to tell my friends at school.”

Talking about the session, Nottingham Forest defender Willy Boly said: “ For me, it’s very important because I can imagine when I was a kid and if I had this opportunity to have a football player to come [to a session], I would be very excited to have this opportunity.

“When you play football, you want to learn from those who play at a high level, so it’s very good for us to give advice on how to play football even better.”

Through initiatives like Premier League Kicks, Nottingham Forest Community Trust continues to make a lasting impact in the community, empowering young people to realise their potential and paving the way for a brighter future and reiterates the Premier League’s More Than A Game initiative.