The programme sits within the Premier League’s Good Causes Strategy and aims to engage 16 to 24 year olds who have had limited education and training opportunities who have been hit hardest by youth unemployment. It provides young people with the necessary skills, confidence and experiences they need to make a positive transition back into education or gain meaningful employment.

The clubs took the opportunity to work together over three days culminating in a final activity at Manchester United’s iconic Cliff Training Ground. Ciaran Donnelly who leads the programme for the Foundation explained the importance of collaborating with other Premier League clubs, “Young people up and down the country are finding it harder to gain employment, and opportunities such as the Barclays Premier League Works Programme help to steady the ship and give young people the chance to discover a potential career direction.”

He added, “Working with other clubs allows everyone the chance to meet like-minded people and exchange their thoughts and feelings about coaching and discuss their plans for the future. Everyone has a different story; the programme is a powerful lesson in team building and communication with the chance to develop lasting friendships.”

Foundation participant, Sophie Briss, from Salford, is just one of many who are benefitting from the programme and explained her plans for the future. “I’d previously been working night shifts in a call centre and it was rubbish. I never really knew what I wanted to do before this and I kept ending up in dead end jobs. As a result of the programme I now know what I what I want to do. My aim is to go through it all, get my coaching qualifications and look towards a career coaching sport with kids.”