How we got Sussex playing in 2023/24
A look back on how the BHAFC Foundation has been changing lives across Sussex this season.
Over ten thousand children and young people have laced up their boots and joined in a BHAFC Foundation football session since the Premier League season started last August.
We have been helping people get active, learn new skills, and live well in 35 different towns and cities throughout Sussex; from Chichester in the west to Hastings in the east, we’ve been spreading the power of the Albion badge across the breadth of the county.
Here are some of the many ways we’ve helped people in Sussex to play football this season.
Premier League Kicks – free football
Premier League Kicks is a programme that provides free football sessions, mentoring, and training to children in areas of high need. In the past year, 1,600 local children have joined us at a PL Kicks session.
Thanks to PL Kicks, children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to quality coaching are given a chance to play football with good equipment in a safe, structured environment.
Older children at PL Kicks can also take part in the Top Bins scheme, which gives them a series of targets to work towards and encourages them to be leadership figures for the younger children.
BHAFC Soccer Schools
Through Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools, hundreds of children all over Sussex are able to have their first experiences of playing organised football. Foundation coaches run soccer schools during every school holiday, giving children aged 5-13 a fun way to get active during the holidays.
In the past 12 months, more than 3,500 youngsters have joined in a BHAFC Soccer Schools session.
Disability football
We are one of the biggest providers of disability football in the region.
More than 600 people took part in a disability football session last year; we run inclusive sessions open to all, as well as disability-specific sessions and a talent pathway for players looking to compete nationally.
Football pathway
For youngsters who are serious about a future in the game, our Football Pathway programme is there to help them develop their talent.
The football pathway sits directly below Albion’s academy system, giving young players a direct pathway from grassroots football all the way to the Premier League.
Last year, nearly 2,000 young girls and boys were a part of the football pathway, being taught weekly by our UEFA-qualified coaches.
How to help
So, how can you help us carry on the good work?
The best way to support the charity is by becoming a Community Champion. Community Champions are fans who commit to donate a small amount to the charity every month.
In return, they get access to exclusive events, a pin badge, a yearly magazine, regular discounts, and much more beyond. To become a Community Champion, just click here.
You can also show your support by coming along to a Foundation event (quiz nights, dinners, fun runs, and more), volunteering, leaving a gift in your will, raising money at the Brighton Marathon – the list goes on. The Foundation is grateful for even the smallest amount of support you can give.
If you want to find out how you can support us, please email fundraising@bhafcfoundation.org.uk.
Thank you once again for all your support this season – here’s to another great year in 2024/25!