Brentford FC Community Sports Trust began delivering Active Minds in Primary Schools at the start of 2024.

The six-week course is a physically active educational programme focused on three key areas: Mental Health and Building Emotional Resilience, Diabetes Awareness and Nutrition and Healthy Eating. The programme is specifically designed to use a play-based approach to improve emotional literacy.

The Active Minds programme is supported by the Premier League and Professional Footballer's Association. Administered through the Premier League Charitable Fund, the funding helps football clubs to tackle inequality and respond to local challenges, supporting people and their communities to be more inclusive.

End of School Year Review

With the programme launching in January, the Trust has already delivered Active Minds in 15 participating schools. 384 children attended at least four of the six sessions and 312 children attended the final ‘action plan’ session.

Testimonials

The programme has empowered children to talk openly about their feelings whilst also understanding how to reflect on their emotions. These positive actions have been noticed by teachers at participating schools.

One Year 3 Class Teacher commented, “I think it is really important for children to understand the link between mental health and wellbeing and physical activity, and I believe the Active Minds programme delivered that effectively and made it really clear. I loved that by the end of the programme, children had a bank of ideas and tools to use and lean on if they need to boost their mental health and wellbeing.

“The children finished the programme with more awareness about a range of feelings and why we may have them, and they are more confident in knowing that it is ok to have a range of emotions and in turn, I have noticed that they show more empathy towards others with different emotions to their own.”

Premier League and PFA Community Fund

This season, 24 professional football club community organisations across the Premier League and English Football League are delivering projects supported by the Premier League and PFA in their local communities.

Nationally, these funded projects have engaged more than 230,000 unique participants in more than 330,000 sessions across England and Wales. Projects are supported by current and former professional football players, and scholars, to enhance the impact on participants.

To find out more about the national fund, please visit premierleague.com.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Active Minds programme, please contact health@brentfordfccst.com