Blackpool FC Community Trust has been awarded £20,000 by the Premier League, with match funding from the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner, to deliver Tower Above – an early intervention programme supporting children aged 8–12 who are at risk of antisocial behaviour, youth violence and criminal exploitation.
The programme provides tailored one-to-one mentoring for young people identified as being most at risk. Every participant is paired with a dedicated Community Cohesion Mentor, who delivers personalised support alongside sport-based activities designed to build trust, confidence and resilience.
Through weekly sessions, young people explore topics including healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing, positive decision-making, community safety, and the risks of exploitation and knife crime. By working closely with families, schools and partner agencies, Tower Above helps children develop the skills, confidence and support networks they need to stay safe, make positive choices and fulfil their potential.
Matt Hilton, Interim CEO of Blackpool FC Community Trust, said,
“Early intervention gives young people the best chance to make positive choices before problems escalate. Tower Above is about building trusted relationships, boosting confidence and helping children realise their potential. We’re incredibly grateful to the Premier League and the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner for their support, which will allow us to continue making a real difference to young people, their families and our communities.”
Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said,
“One of my key priorities is tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and I am committed to achieving this by working with partners, local organisations and the Government to bring further investment into Lancashire. Blackpool FC Community Trust has a strong track record of delivering prevention initiatives that make a real difference in our communities, and I am pleased to provide match funding to support this project.”
Blackpool FC Community Trust is one of 49 professional football club charities across England and Wales to receive a share of £900,000 in Premier League funding to develop Police Partnerships projects with their local police forces, aimed at strengthening community relationships and reducing the risk of reoffending.
Premier League Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer Clare Sumner CBE said,
“The Premier League has a long-standing commitment to working with local police forces to create positive opportunities for young people in communities across the country. We are delighted to build on this partnership, expanding our reach to provide even more support and positive interventions for those who need it most.”
The Premier League investment is match-funded by police forces, alongside additional contributions from statutory partners, including Violence Reduction Units and Police and Crime Commissioners. Together, this brings the total investment into local communities to more than £2million.
Through this funding, club charities will work with their local police forces to inspire young people to reach their potential, providing them with positive opportunities which divert them away from possible involvement in anti-social behaviour, crime and youth violence.
The projects have been co-designed by football club charities and police forces to deliver meaningful, targeted interventions for young people. These include one-to-one mentoring for young people at risk of criminal exploitation, as well as programmes designed to rebuild trust between police and communities. Activities will also address key issues such as anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and knife crime.
Delivery will take place through Premier League Kicks, the Premier League’s longest-standing community programme that recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary and provides young people with access to free weekly football and multi-sport sessions, mentoring and education workshops.
This latest investment from the Premier League and police forces builds on the 2023-2025 Police Partnerships Pilot, through which the Premier League and police forces jointly invested more than £ 1 million in local communities.
To find out more, please visit www.premierleague.com
