Thanks to National Lottery players, the Cardiff City Community Foundation is expanding their youth outreach work across Cardiff’s Southern Arc with a three-year programme that builds on their successful track record and extends into new communities.

This investment comes at a critical time. The Centre for Social Justice’s recent ‘Lost Boys’ report highlights how young men across the UK are falling behind in education, employment and wellbeing, with early intervention through sport-based programmes identified as one of the most effective ways to provide positive male role models and pathways away from crime and poverty.

Thanks to a £474,928 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, the League One club’s Foundation be reaching more young people across nine sites including Grangetown, Butetown, Ely, Llanrumney and Splott, delivering free football sessions, after-school youth clubs, mentoring and life skills workshops.

The programme includes weekly Premier League Kicks football sessions, after-school youth clubs, group mentoring, and Team Talk workshops on topics young people chose and are most affected by.

Cardiff also run termly community events, stadium tours and special experiences including match tickets for those who might not otherwise get the chance.

“The National Lottery Community Fund investment is transformational for what we can achieve across Cardiff’s Southern Arc and beyond,” Zac Lyndon Jones, Director of Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, said.

“It allows us to build on what already works, extend into new neighbourhoods and work alongside local partners to support young people at exactly the right moment.

“Early intervention works when it is consistent, trusted and rooted in communities. This funding enables us to be present in the right places, at the right times, working collaboratively to give more young people safe spaces, positive role models and opportunities shaped by what they tell us they need.”

“We are proud to fund the Cardiff City FC Foundation’s work supporting children and young people to thrive,” added Andrew Owen, Head of Funding for Wales at The National Lottery Community Fund.

“Their project will help communities across the city, encouraging young people to come together, and directly helping communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination, thanks to National Lottery players.”

In areas such as Caerau in Maesteg, where Premier League Kicks launched in March 2024, recorded crime has fallen by 18% and anti-social behaviour by 25%.

While these improvements reflect a wider collective effort across the community, the Cardiff Community Fund programmes play a meaningful role by engaging young people during peak risk hours and offering positive alternatives.

Across all Cardiff City FC Community Foundation services delivered last year, 88% of participants reported improved wellbeing and 98% felt a stronger sense of belonging.

These outcomes reflect the collective impact of our wider engagement across communities, demonstrating how structured sport, mentoring and trusted relationships contribute to safer, more connected places.

The CCFC Foundation working in partnership with South Wales Police, Cardiff Youth Services, Cardiff Council and local schools to make sure this expanded programme is embedded in communities and easy for young people to access through trusted relationships, structured activities and mentoring during the hours when young people need support most.

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