New youth engagement programme, Powered Up, launched by Wigan Athletic Community Trust

Wigan Athletic Women's captain, Abbie Moore, is supporting the Powered Up programme
Powered Up will support girls aged 12-16 to improve their confidence and achieve their potential
This new programme is made possible thanks to the Premier League and the Professional Footballers' Association

Wigan Athletic Community Trust is launching a new Players’ Project Pilot, supported by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).

The Players’ Project Pilot aims to build stronger connections between players, communities and football clubs by putting players at the heart of local projects that help tackle inequalities, raise aspirations, develop thriving communities, and inspire positive change.

Wigan Athletic Community Trust will work closely with Wigan Athletic Women’s Captain, Abbie Moore, to deliver Powered Up, a new innovative youth engagement programme to support girls aged 12 – 16 who might be vulnerable in the local community to improve their confidence, raise their aspirations and achieve their potential.

Wigan Athletic Women’s Captain Abbie Moore said: “Being from the area, I have a lot of pride in being a Wiganer. My passion is in inspiring the next generation and making sure they have the opportunity to do whatever they want to do in life. I’m really excited to work on this project and support the young people we’ll be working with.”

The programme will also be supported by Wigan Council, with sessions being supported by staff from the Meadows Family Hub, as well as the fantastic facilities being used to deliver the programme.

Open to professional football club charities and player foundations, the Players’ Project Pilot will harness players' personal interests to help address important societal issues.

Premier League Director of Community, Nick Perchard, said: “The Players’ Project Pilot is a powerful initiative that places players at the heart of community work, allowing them to use their influence to make a real difference.

“By combining players’ passions with the proven delivery of professional football club charities, this funding will respond to local need and create meaningful impact that extends far beyond the pitch.”

Professional Footballers’ Association Chief Executive, Maheta Molango, said: “Supporting the work that our members do in their communities has always been a priority for the PFA and I’ve personally enjoyed seeing the impact that they have and the way they use their platform.

“I know from conversations with players that they want to use their position to highlight work in their communities that really matters to them and where they feel that personal connection.

“We’ve been keen to give them opportunities to do that, and the Players’ Project Pilot is an excellent way of growing that connection between our members and the work they do off the pitch.”

In addition to the Players’ Project Pilot delivered by Wigan Athletic Community Trust, the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) will be investing in a further 16 projects across England and Wales. Each charity has received a grant of up to £25,000 from the Premier League and PFA, which will be distributed by the Premier League Charitable Fund.

Funded projects within the pilot have been designed to positively impact people of all ages and include intergenerational activities designed to support female carers, inclusive initiatives for people living with dementia and intervention programmes devised to tackle child criminal exploitation.

To find out more, please visit www.premierleague.com

Wigan Athletic Community Trust to launch new Players’ Project Pilot, supported by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association