Here, we take a look at the incredible impact of some of these programmes.

Since 2010, the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association’s Community Fund has enabled clubs across England and Wales to develop and deliver community programmes that are tailored to needs in their local area.

Here, we take a look at the incredible impact of some of these programmes.

Akram (Crystal Palace)
Akram lives in Croydon and is combining studying for a finance degree with working with the Palace For Life Foundation, the charitable arm of Crystal Palace.

He has been a volunteer for the last two years and is now a qualified coach where he leads sessions with Get Involved, a programme that gives opportunities for young people and adults from the Asian and Muslim community to participate in football and increase cohesion with other communities through joint activities.

“I was Get Involved’s first participant. It all began with an after-school football club hosted by the Palace for Life Foundation at my secondary school. Hazmi, a coach and now my mentor, recognised my interest in football and approached me with the idea of working with the Asian community and possibly pursuing a career in coaching the sport in the future.

“They proposed an idea that appealed to me – to encourage the Asian community to get involved in football while also battling discrimination and identifying talent in the local area.

“I remember being the only person at the first session but word quickly spread, resulting in many people who were interested in being a part of this project.

“I began as a volunteer and have now become a coach working at community sessions, after-school clubs and player-development centres, as well as hosting tournaments and Iftar events at both the Crystal Palace stadium and Crystal Palace Academy. With the Get Involved project, we give children a chance to showcase their talent and help them improve their football abilities.