Throughout Saturday's fixture with Liverpool at London Stadium, the Club is celebrating the work of its official charity, the award-winning West Ham United Foundation!
A Foundation For All
For those new to the Foundation's work, here's a quick summary!
⚒ 35+ initiatives: from sports and football development to health, education & employability
⚒ East London, Essex & international delivery
⚒ Reaching 50,000 people of all ages & abilities
⚒ 92p of every £1 donated goes on helping people in need
Why Is It Important?
Operating in some of the most underserved areas in the UK, the Foundation’s programmes tackle inequalities and provide tailored support for residents of our vibrant communities who otherwise may not reach their full potential.
The Goal: Inspiring better futures by improving the life opportunities of individuals, groups and communities
Youth Engagement
Amidst some of the highest crime rates in the capital, a significant part of the Foundation’s strategy to positively impact its surrounding communities is through youth engagement. With interventions that target key risk factors for violence perpetration and experiences, the Foundation’s programmes look to engage young people at risk of engaging in criminal activity by preventing violence before it happens.
Premier League Kicks exemplifies the preventative nature of the Foundation’s approach, by engaging thousands of children in East London in free weekly football sessions. By providing a free after-school safe space where young people can make friends and play football significantly reduces their propensity to engage in antisocial behaviour.
Naya, a regular participant at the Foundation’s Beckton sessions said: “I feel like Kicks is the reason I’ve developed, it’s an environment where you really get to progress. You get to play with people from different age groups and genders, as well as work with WHU Foundation coaches.”
Beyond the football pitch, through a range of programmes including Advantage, Jigsaw and Primary Care Network scheme, whereby the Foundation’s diverse team of mentors - hailing from the same areas as the participants with whom they engage with - work with young people who may be struggling with their mental health, at risk of involvement in crime, or needing assistance with positive pathways and role models, to implement tailored preventative measures through dedicated mentoring support.
Employability
Securing a job or taking the next step in your career can often be a difficult process. Whether individuals are seeking their passion, awaiting an opportunity, or pondering how to expand their professional network, the Foundation extends a helping hand through its array of employability-focused schemes.
The Training Ground + is a free mentoring programme designed to provide young people with the necessary skills to thrive in the workplace or pursue further education and training opportunities.
Tyler, who captained his team of peers in a nationwide tournament held at St George’s Park representing the WHU Foundation, reflected on his journey through the ten-week programme: “Before joining The Training Ground +, my head was all over the place. I took a break from education and came to the Foundation, met new people, and built my own mental strength. The people I've met have been amazing.”
Other ways in which the Foundation provides employability support is through its partnership with The Prince’s Trust, delivering free Get Started programmes, covering a range of sectors. From empowering young girls to take their first steps into coaching and leadership roles to exposing young people to the abundant career opportunities in the print industry, the Foundation strives to broaden horizons and open doors to success.
Recognising the challenges faced by individuals within the prison system, the Foundation's employability efforts extend to our Twinning programme. This unique initiative, delivered by club community organisations across the country, aims to twin every prison with its local football club. An overwhelming 83 per cent of men in the UK leave prison without a job to go to with almost two thirds of them reoffending within a year of release. By intervening and delivering coaching and literacy qualifications, the Foundation’s employability team has been making an impact transmitting law-abiding values through football identity.
Health & Wellbeing
There are a variety of inequalities being faced across the Foundation’s local boroughs. As a result, a focus of the Foundation’s health and wellbeing support has been on prevalent challenges across communities exhibiting some of the lowest proportions of physically active adults in England. In addition, the financial burden from the cost-of-living crisis is further contributing to food insecurity as well as a worsening of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as a result of residents not being able to afford heating their homes.
Within this context, the Foundation delivers a free Pulmonary Rehab referral programme for people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease where participants are reintroduced to light physical activity helping them better cope with the symptoms of the disease as well as connecting them with other like-minded individuals.
One of the many ways in which the Foundation keeps its communities active is through the Active United programme, which brings people together of all ages and abilities to participate in football or basketball at a moderate pace.
Acknowledging the harsh realities of financial insecurity, we have launched the Claret Claims Clinic, a pilot programme designed to alleviate financial pressures on pensioners. Currently, over £9 million of pension credits go unclaimed in Newham alone. In response to this, the Health & Wellbeing department has partnered with the East End Community Foundation to deliver weekly sessions to help residents understand and claim pension credits with confidence.
Often overlooked yet profoundly impactful on health is loneliness. According to the World Health Organisation, smoking 15 cigarettes per day is as detrimental to health as poor social connections, highlighting the need for interventions to combat this issue. The Foundation’s Any Old Irons programme, with cohorts in East London and Essex comprising of over 300 West Ham fans over the age of 65, has provided a vital lifeline for participants. Through shared experiences and their mutual love for the Hammers, participants have forged meaningful connections, mitigating feelings of loneliness and fostering a sense of belonging within their community.
East Ham member Doreen explained what the programme meant to her: “I lost my husband during the pandemic and I needed something to grab onto, so joining Any Old Irons has been lifesaving for me. Although we’re all passionate West Ham fans, it’s great to meet people and hear them talking not only about the football, but also their grandchildren and their holidays.”
Football Development
As the official charity of a Premier League football club, the Foundation is committed to nurturing the talents of aspiring young players and creating positive pathways for their development.
Being released from academies is one of the biggest setbacks a young athlete can encounter. To address this issue and enable young players to continue with their development both on and off the pitch, the Foundation delivers Football & Education programmes. Our Second Chance Academy as well as our Post-16 programme allows young players aged 16 to 19 to continue pursuing their dreams of becoming a professional footballer by representing the WHU Foundation and competing in the Youth Development League, while also obtaining CTEC and BTEC qualifications off the pitch.
Captain of last season’s Blues team summed up his Post-16 experience: “When I was coming out of an Academy, I found this programme which was local and haven’t looked back since. I’ve grown in confidence, gained more knowledge about the game through the coaches, and made really good friends. It’s top level and you go into every game like it’s professional.”
Education
The power of football within education is undeniable, and the Foundation continues to harness its influence to engage students and promote positive outcomes.
In primary schools, the WHU Foundation champions the Premier League Primary Stars programme, utilising the universal appeal of football to inspire young children to lead active lifestyles and cultivate essential skills.
Transitioning to secondary education, the Foundation continues its impactful work through initiatives like the Premier League Inspires and Community Hub school programmes. These programmes play a vital role in supporting marginalised or at-risk students, guiding them through the education system and into early adulthood. By providing tailored support and opportunities for growth, we empower students to overcome barriers and realise their full potential.
A student from Jo Richardson Community School who has been benefiting from the Foundation’s support said: “I work with my Foundation mentor every Wednesday. I’ve been through quite a lot and Wednesdays are the highlight of my week, because I know I can sit down, talk to them about anything I want and If I come in angry or upset, they never fail to change that and make me happy.”
Inspiring Better Futures
We take great pride in our work, which enables us to address the diverse needs of our communities. Whether through our health initiatives that support the most vulnerable, our mentorship programmes that provide guidance and opportunities, or our efforts to keep children and young people engaged through sports and education, we remain committed to empowering individuals and fostering community cohesion.
