December 17 – The Premier League has launched a new three-year partnership with Comic Relief, committing £4.65 million to programmes aimed at improving children’s mental health and wellbeing across England and Wales.
Unveiled at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge earlier this month, the initiative places young people at the centre of what the Premier League calls a “nationwide effort to address mental health challenges through football”, marking the next step in a storied relationship first beginning in 2002 through the launch of Sport Relief.
The philanthropic programme will focus on equipping children with practical wellbeing tools, educational resources and life skills, while also working to reduce the stigma that continues to surround mental health issues.
Delivery of the programme will be channelled through the Premier League Foundation’s national network of club charities, which operate in local communities across the country. As a bonus, teachers and coaches involved will receive additional mental health training, with the aim of ensuring that support is embedded sustainably within grassroots and school environments rather than delivered as a one-off intervention.
The Premier League and Comic Relief say the initiatives’ co-creation approach is intended to strengthen leadership skills and give children a sense of ownership over conversations around their own mental health.
The programme comes against a backdrop of growing concern around access to mental health support for young people. Research cited by Comic Relief suggests that more than two-thirds of young people would prefer to access mental health support outside of traditional GP pathways, while stigma remains a significant barrier to speaking openly.
For the Premier League, the partnership reinforces football’s expanding role in social and community programmes beyond the professional game, while for Comic Relief it provides access to one of the country’s most powerful engagement platforms as it seeks to scale mental health support for young people over the next three years.
Alex White, Premier League Foundation chief executive, said: “Our network of 106 football club charities sit at the heart of communities across England and Wales, and we see first-hand the potential of children and young people to take charge of their mental health and wellbeing when given the right support and opportunities.
“This partnership with Comic Relief is about more than delivering sessions – it’s about empowering young people to shape the resources and tools that will support them, ensuring their voices lead the way. By working together, we can create environments where young people feel confident, resilient, and able to thrive, both on and off the pitch.”
Olly Dawson, Head of Sport for Change and Funding Operations at Comic Relief, said: “Right now there is a growing mental health crisis among young people in this country. Tens of thousands are waiting over two years for support and stigma continues to prevent countless more from speaking up in the first place.
“We know that football – and sport more broadly – can play a pivotal role in supporting mental health and wellbeing, so it only felt natural for us to team up with our long-term partners, the Premier League in this unique way.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]