The Premier League, in partnership with Barclays, is supporting young people in the run-up to Christmas by funding Premier League Kicks Holiday Camps for eight to 18-year-olds.
The holiday camps will take place between Monday 21st and Wednesday 23rd December and will see 75 professional football club community organisations, including Preston North End Community and Education Trust, support young pepple who need it most with access to sport and positive activities, as well as nutritious meals.
Marcus Rashford - a former Kicks participant - is an ambassador for the activity, which is set to support 4,500 young people following the break-up of schools for the holidays, and the start of the Christmas period.
The Trust's initiative is taking place at Ingol Primary School, where it has similarly delivered its Happy Holiday Club initiatives in the summer holidays, which also provided physical activity sessiosn and free meals for children who would usually receive free school meals, outside of term time.
The Trust also delivered meals to children on the programme when it could not run in its planned format, due to regional lockdown measures.
🥣 360 lunches for 30 participants
— Preston North End Community and Education Trust (@pnecommunity) September 28, 2020
đź’Ż 195 food deliveries
🤝 32 food crates for local partners#PNECET's Happy Holiday Club supported vulnerable children and families during the summer holidays. 🤍
➡️ https://t.co/eXVHIsz8dg#LancsCOVIDFund #pnefc @EFLTrust @Lancsfoundation pic.twitter.com/gOkO4mchu2
Premier League Kicks provides free football sessions for eight to 18-year-olds across the United Kingdom with the Trust running several sessions in Preston and the surrounding areas as part of the initiative.
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive said: "The importance of clubs within their communities has been more evident than ever this year. There has been a significant commitment to helping vulnerable groups within society, when they need our help the most.
"The Premier League Kicks Holiday Camps will build upon the brilliant community work that clubs continue to deliver year-round.
"Thank you to Barclays for their partnership on this vital activity for young people and to Marcus Rashford for being an ambassador; once again making a positive difference to support others. We hope that those taking part in the Premier League Kicks Holiday Campsenjoy themselves this Christmas."
The Premier League Kicks Holiday Camps are an extension of the weekly Kicks programme sessions which have been run byfootball club community organisations for 14 years. The camps will provide young people with a range of activity to support theirphysical wellbeing. Delivery will also look to enhance personal development through activity including Barclays LifeSkills workshops on boosting self-confidence and financial literacy.
Premier League Kicks aims to engage children and young people of all backgrounds and abilities in football, sport and personal development sessions - providing a trusted, positive influence in high-need areas across England and Wales. Over 387,000 children have taken part in the programme since it launched in 2006.
Tom Corbett, Barclays Head of Sponsorship, said: "These Premier League Kicks Holiday Camps will help young people up and down the country with access to sport, nutrition and confidence boosting activities.
"That is why we are teaming up with the Premier League to offer our support, which comes in addition to our Community Aid Package for charities working in response to the pandemic. We hope to provide a real boost for many families by giving these young people an enjoyable and active week before Christmas."
Marcus Rashford MBE, Premier League Kicks Holiday Camps ambassador, added: "I've always been proud to call football my profession. This game helped myself and my family out of very difficult circumstances.
"Football clubs sit in the heart of all communities and have the power to unite people. Their response to the pandemic has been incredible and it's now about building upon that momentum to support those who are most vulnerable this Christmas.
"Football cares, and I'm thrilled to have worked with the Premier League and Barclays on a programme that not only protects and supports, but enables young people to develop personal skills in areas like financial literacy, food and nutrition, and literacy."