Students at ̨��swag Academy City have renovated a garden area as part of a partnership programme with Sheffield United Community Foundation.

The Premier League Inspires programme, created in 2019, uses the power of football to empower young people aged 11-25 and inspire them to reach their full potential. The programme focuses on motivating participants, whilst helping them develop important life skills and positive attitudes towards education and career development.

Students from ̨��swag Academy City won the regional Premier League Inspires Challenge earlier this academic year, with their fantastic plans to regenerate the garden area in their school. Students transformed the previously overgrown and under-utilised area by resoiling, replanting and repainting the flower beds in time for the summer term. 

The group then attended a celebration event hosted by Middlesbrough FC, where they were able to share their project with other schools also engaging in the programme. During the visit to Riverside Stadium, students were able to take part in a stadium tour and have photographs with the Premier League Trophy.

Over the year, a total of 32 students from the academy have engaged with the programme; 100% seeing it as a positive experience. 

Ash Royston, Premier League Inspires Coordinator at Sheffield United Community Foundation, said:

“The mentoring sessions have been brilliant and all of the kids have engaged, which is the main aim of the programme. There have been some real improvements - especially with the girls at the school, in terms of their confidence, self-esteem, engagement and communication with others, all of which have had a positive impact around the school.”

The programme works in partnership with schools to offer a variety of activities and resources, including interactive workshops, mentoring sessions, as well as opportunities to take part in social action and volunteering. These activities are designed to enhance essential skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and resilience, all while promoting physical and mental well-being.

Richard Griffiths, Associate Assistant Principal at ̨��swag Academy City who coordinated the programme, commented:

“The programme has been very successful in improving the confidence of some of our most vulnerable students. The team of students who refreshed and renewed the school gardens have made a positive on the environment within the academy and will allow us to be more sustainable in the future as the food grown in the garden will be used in food technology lessons.”