At Educationwise, our mission has always been simple: meet young people where they are, not where systems expect them to be. That is why we strongly welcome the Government’s decision to expand Youth Hubs through partnerships with football clubs across the UK.

The scale of the challenge cannot be ignored. Nearly one million young people are currently NEET. Behind that statistic are individuals with talent, ambition and potential, but who are disengaged from institutions that feel distant, bureaucratic or unrelatable. For too long, youth support has been designed around processes rather than people.

This initiative marks an important shift in thinking.

Football clubs are not just sporting organisations; they are trusted community institutions. In many towns and cities, particularly those affected by long-term economic decline, the local club is one of the few remaining sources of pride, identity and continuity. Young people may distrust government, but they trust their club. That trust matters.

At Educationwise, we are particularly excited by this approach because it mirrors how we already work. We have built strong, effective partnerships with community trusts and grassroots organisations that are deeply embedded in the communities they serve. These partnerships allow us to deliver education, employability and progression support in spaces where young people already feel safe, understood and valued.

By working alongside community trusts, youth charities and local partners, we ensure that our programmes are not imposed from the outside but co-designed with those who know the community best. This collaborative model creates credibility, consistency and long-term impact, the very foundations required for Youth Hubs to succeed.

By hosting Youth Hubs within football clubs and their charitable arms, the Government is lowering psychological barriers that have historically kept young people away from support. A meeting at a stadium or club community facility feels very different to an appointment at a Jobcentre. One signals belonging the other often signals judgement. That distinction can be the difference between disengagement and participation.

At Educationwise, we see enormous potential in this model. Education, employment and training pathways are most effective when they are wrapped in environments that feel safe, familiar and aspirational. Co-locating work coaches, mentors and education providers within football-led Youth Hubs creates a genuine “one-stop shop” that reflects how young people actually live their lives.

However, success will depend on execution. These hubs must offer more than branding and good intentions. They must provide high-quality guidance, flexible education routes, real employer connections and sustained follow-up. Football clubs and community trusts open the door; what happens once young people walk through it is what truly counts.

We believe this approach aligns with everything Educationwise stands for: collaboration over silos, trust over compliance and opportunity over punishment. With our existing community trust partnerships, Educationwise is well placed to support and strengthen this model, ensuring that young people are met with pathways that are credible, compassionate and effective.

I look forward to seeing how this initiative develops and to continuing our work with community trusts and partners to ensure every young person has access to opportunities that work for them, not against them.

– Judith Allen, CEO