As part of the Premier League Supports campaign, Foundation School Partnership Officer Lee Caldwell has been recognised as our ‘One of Our Own’ winner for his outstanding contribution to Premier League funded programmes. We caught up with Lee to learn more about his role, the pride he takes from it, and the famous faces he’s met along the way…

Firstly, congratulations Lee! Can you start by telling us about your Foundation story?

Thank you very much! So, I started back in 2010, initially helping to run what was then our Business Enterprise Project, before being based permanently at our partner school, Broadoak, in Partington, where I later became School Partnership Officer. There were many sink or swim moments in those early days where I was finding my feet, but the responsibilities I was given – working in the school and its local primaries, running a junior football team – all helped shape me as a coach and a mentor. I moved over to Dixons Brooklands Academy (previously Manchester Health Academy) in 2012, which is where I’ve been ever since.

What does your role entail?

I’m there to offer additional support to the students, provide positive opportunities and ultimately be a role model for them. We target pupils who encounter challenges in their lives and help them through one-to-one mentoring, sometimes focusing on changing their mindset and encouraging self-belief. We also host mental health and wellbeing sessions to improve their self-esteem and hopefully make school a more positive experience, which they can make the most of.

In addition to the mentoring interventions, we also provide structured programmes and inspirational events to enrich our students. For example, our Premier League Inspires social action work is empowering students to have a voice in their local community and tackle societal issues, and we've also provided opportunities for employability with four of our students who are now refereeing at the weekend and also supporting our primary transition football programme.

During my time here we have provided many experiences which can change student’s lives and give them aspirations they have never even considered, which is the beauty of the role. Recently we went to the University of Manchester where the kids were able to look at the process behind building planes, engineering and things like that. After it, one of the students who is only 11 declared that he now wanted to be an astronaut! That’s what it’s about, introducing the kids to the world beyond their local community – as that can often be the only world they know.

What’s the best thing about working for the Foundation?

It has to be seeing the impact on the young people that I’ve worked with. One I think of is Curtis, a student who I began supporting at Button Lane Primary School in Wythenshawe and continued working with him in secondary school. He responded so well to our support; by the time he was in year 8, he was volunteering at Street Reds, and he later took the chance be a ball assistant at Old Trafford. He’s now in Australia, playing and coaching football.

Sometimes it can just be a simple chat at break-time with a student when there’s something on their mind, and then other students you work with closely over a number of years, like with Curtis. But of course, we want them to have fun, and through our football sessions the kids can let loose and enjoy themselves. We know that many of our participants come from difficult backgrounds, so it’s vital that – as well as supporting and encouraging them – we give them an outlet to allow them to be young and have fun.

United is the biggest club in the world and when kids see you wearing that badge, there’s immediately an interest, it helps to build a rapport with them and motivates them. When they see the opportunities we can provide, both inside and outside of school, it’s really inspiring for them. There will be days when I come out during break to set the kids off playing football and they will all be chanting my name! It’s very funny, but it’s really nice. Little things like that bring a smile to your face.

Another student who went to Button Lane Primary was Marcus Rashford…

He did indeed! And he also attended Street Reds, where I was head coach. He’d come, I guess, as much as he was able to, and obviously he was tearing people apart! He even came to the session the night after he’d made his debut against Midtjylland, which obviously caused a stir amongst the other participants. Me and the other coaches almost had to act as his unofficial bodyguards!

On a serious note, he’s such an aspirational figure and I think his story and achievements tally nicely with what we try to do and what I’ve spoken about. There’s a big mural featuring Marcus in our school and it’s a reminder to these kids that they can dream big and that they can do and be more than they might think.

Talk to us a little bit about your work in the EDI (Equality Diversity Inclusion) space and why you are particularly passionate about it.

Over the past few years there have been some very concerning global stories related to racial, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic discrimination, so along with some of my colleagues I felt it was important to start some positive conversations within our schools. We have since developed the Inclusion Champions Programme, focusing on disability, gender, LGBTQ+ and racism, which is now delivered in all of our schools.

In my school, it’s really taken hold with many students setting up social action groups to help combat discrimination in their communities. We look to bring young people together from all different backgrounds – it’s very multicultural and we embrace that as it helps educate and empower young people, creating a more inclusive, accepting and open-minded generation of young adults. The ripple effects can be massive.

It must feel special to have all this work recognised by the Premier League?

It’s times like these when I think back to all the amazing people who I’ve worked with, at the school, the Foundation and at the club who enable me to do what I do and make my job so much easier. It’s humbling to receive the recognition, and it reaffirms that you’re on the right track, but above all, it’s recognition of the amazing work we do as an organisation to improve the lives of thousands of young people. Helping Manchester United support its local community is a big thing for me and I’m really proud to be a part of it.