One-Week Youth Leadership Programme

A five-day Football and Film creative leadership experience for young people

The Football Journeys One-Week Youth Leadership Programme is a high-impact, outcomes-focused 20-hour programme designed to support young people’s confidence, communication, teamwork, leadership, wellbeing and social development.

Delivered over five days, the programme combines football, film, creative storytelling, group discussion, leadership challenges and reflective learning to create a safe, inclusive and purposeful experience that supports positive youth engagement both on and off the pitch.

Adapted from our established Football Journeys school model, this focused one-week format is ideal for youth clubs, community organisations, holiday activity providers, after-school clubs and enrichment programmes looking to deliver meaningful, measurable impact for young people.

Who Is This Programme For?

The programme is designed for organisations that work with young people and want to provide a meaningful, engaging and structured activity during school holidays, half terms or enrichment periods.

Its is suitable for:

  • Community clubs are often at the heart of local neighbourhoods, making them ideal partners for the FJ Week Programme. The programme supports young people to connect with others, understand different backgrounds and build teamwork through shared football and creative activities. It gives community clubs a meaningful, ready-made programme that adds value to their existing youth offer.

  • After-school clubs need activities that are engaging, purposeful and easy for young people to connect with. The FJ Week Programme can be adapted into an after-school format, giving young people a positive end-of-day experience that combines physical activity, creativity, teamwork and reflection. It helps keep young people motivated while supporting their social and emotional development.

  • The programme is well suited to local authority-funded youth programmes because it supports key outcomes such as youth engagement, confidence-building, physical activity, community cohesion and positive personal development. Its structured five-day format makes it easy to place within funded holiday provision, youth intervention programmes or community-based support initiatives.

  • For community organisations, the FJ Week Programme provides a ready-to-deliver youth development experience that can strengthen existing services. It helps young people build confidence, form positive relationships and explore identity, leadership and teamwork in a safe and supportive space. It is especially useful for organisations looking to offer something active, creative and impact-driven.

  • The FJ Week Programme is well suited to youth clubs because it gives young people a structured, positive and engaging experience during times when clubs often need fresh activities. The programme uses football, creativity and leadership challenges to help young people stay active, build confidence and develop stronger communication skills in a familiar youth club environment.

  • The FJ Week Programme is suited to schools because it supports wider personal development beyond the classroom. It can be used as an enrichment week, transition programme, leadership project or personal development activity. Through football and storytelling, students are encouraged to build confidence, listen to others, work in teams and develop leadership skills.

  • The FJ Week Programme is ideal for holiday activity providers because it offers a complete five-day structure that keeps young people active, engaged and learning during school breaks. It is more than a sports camp; it combines football with leadership, communication and creative activities, making it a strong fit for holiday programmes that want to deliver both fun and meaningful impact.

  • The FJ Week Programme works well as an in-school enrichment programme because it gives students the chance to learn in a different way. It supports PSHE, leadership, teamwork, communication and inclusion through practical activities. Schools can use it to enhance student development, support transition periods or provide a focused week of personal growth and community understanding.

Why We Created This Programme

Football Journeys has seen the power of Football and Film creative storytelling to bring young people together.

Our full school programme usually runs over 16 weeks. However, we know that many youth clubs, community clubs and holiday providers need shorter, flexible programmes that can be delivered during school holidays, half terms and community activity weeks.

That is why we created the FJ One-Week Youth Leadership Programme.

It gives young people access to the heart of the Football Journeys experience in a shorter, more accessible format.

Over five days, participants will take part in activities that help them:

  • The FJ Week Programme is particularly suited to organisations that bring together young people from different communities, cultures or life experiences. Football Journeys uses football as a common language to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes and create meaningful connection. The programme helps young people find common ground while developing empathy, communication and respect for others.

  • London youth organisations reached over 600,000 young people in 2025, showing strong demand for trusted youth spaces. FJ Week builds confidence through football challenges, group reflection and opportunities for young people to speak and lead.

  • Sport England highlights a positive link between physical activity and young people’s wellbeing. FJ Week uses football-based team challenges to help participants cooperate, solve problems and support each other.

  • London is one of the UK’s most diverse cities. FJ Week brings young people together through football, film and conversation, helping them learn from different backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints.

  • Creative activities help young people explore identity, confidence and personal stories. FJ Week uses film, reflection and storytelling to give participants a safe way to express who they are and what matters to them.

  • Young Londoners need safe spaces to express views and be heard. FJ Week uses discussion, storytelling and team tasks to help young people practise listening, speaking clearly and sharing ideas with confidence.

  • The Young Londoners Manifesto calls for young people to take greater leadership in shaping solutions. FJ Week gives participants practical leadership roles through team activities, peer support and group decision-making.

  • FJ Week creates structured opportunities for young people to meet, play, talk and reflect together. This helps challenge assumptions and encourages young people to see each other beyond postcode, background, culture or community identity.

  • Evidence shows sport can support self-esteem, pro-social behaviour and social networks. FJ Week combines football with film/tech and guided discussion, turning participation into deeper learning and personal development.

  • The Mayor of London’s Sport Unites approach identifies sport as a tool to address social isolation, social mixing, mental health, inactivity and serious youth violence. FJ Week uses football to build connection and trust.

Our first focus is to support youth clubs and community clubs during half terms and the six-week summer holiday period.

Many London boroughs and local authorities run holiday provision during this period, including programmes connected to the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which supports children from low-income families during school holidays.

This Is Not Just a Football Camp - An FJ Week Goes Beyond Sport

It uses the energy and accessibility of football to open up conversations, unlock confidence and create moments of real personal growth. Across the week, young people are challenged to step outside their comfort zones, take responsibility, contribute to a team and recognise the role they can play in their wider community. The result is a purposeful experience that supports stronger relationships, greater self-belief and a deeper sense of belonging.

Why This Programme Matters

For many young people in inner-city communities, school holidays can increase the risk of social isolation, reduced physical activity, low engagement and limited access to meaningful enrichment opportunities.

The Football Journeys One-Week Youth Leadership Programme provides a safe, inclusive and impact-driven space where young people can stay active, build confidence, strengthen communication skills, develop leadership, improve wellbeing and build positive relationships across communities.

What Young People Will Gain

By the end of the week, young people will have taken part in a structured experience that helps them develop:

Programme Structure

The programme runs from Monday to Friday.

Each day includes four hours of structured delivery, creating a total of 20 hours across the week.

Daily Timetable

10:00am – 12:00pm
Morning session: football, leadership activities, team-building and group challenges

12:00pm – 1:00pm
Lunch break

1:00pm – 3:00pm
Afternoon session: creative storytelling, reflection, communication tasks and leadership development

The programme can be adapted depending on the age group, venue, organisation and needs of the young people taking part.

  • Young people are encouraged to use their voice, take part, lead activities and express their ideas.

  • Participants learn how to work with others, support teammates and solve problems together.

  • Through film, storytelling and reflective activities, young people explore identity, community and personal growth.

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There’s More…

The Football Journeys experience does not end when the programme finishes.

After completing the FJ Programme, young people may be invited to continue their journey in the FJ Ambassadors Programme, giving them the opportunity to further develop their confidence, leadership, communication and creative skills alongside the Football Journeys team.

  • Young people are given practical chances to lead, organise, encourage others and take responsibility.

  • The programme creates opportunities for young people to speak, listen, present, reflect and share their views.

  • Football Journeys creates safe spaces for young people from different backgrounds to connect, challenge assumptions and find common ground.

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FJ Ambassadors Programme

Young people who complete the FJ Programme may be invited to continue their development through the FJ Ambassadors Programme, a three-year progression pathway designed to help students build on the confidence, leadership, communication and creative skills they have already developed.

The Ambassadors Programme takes place during school breaks and gives young people access to new experiences, industries and opportunities across London. Through continued engagement with the Football Journeys team, students are supported to sharpen existing skills, learn new ones and stay connected to a positive network of coaches, mentors and peers.

  • Many young people feel underprepared for work. FJ Ambassadors practise speaking, presenting and sharing ideas in professional settings, helping them build workplace confidence and communication skills.

  • Employers value organisation, teamwork and problem-solving. Ambassadors help support real events, learning how to plan, coordinate, manage responsibilities and contribute professionally behind the scenes.

  • Creative education is linked to stronger workplace confidence and readiness. Ambassadors present film, media and storytelling projects, helping them communicate ideas and build pride in their work.

  • Youth unemployment and NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) levels remain a national concern. The Ambassadors Programme helps young people develop leadership, self-belief and employability skills before entering further education, training or work.

  • Skills England recognises that young people often develop teamwork, resilience and communication through informal routes like sport and volunteering. FJ helps make these skills visible and transferable.

  • Young Londoners benefit from hands-on experiences, role models and professional networks. Ambassadors apply communication, organisation and creative skills through events, industry visits and employer-facing opportunities.

  • London’s creative and priority sectors need stronger pathways for young people. FJ connects Ambassadors to new places, industries and experiences across the city through creative learning.

  • Professional exposure helps young people understand career pathways and build networks. Ambassadors engage with external organisations through tours, talks and industry insight experiences that support future readiness.

As FJ Ambassadors, young people take part in hands-on experiences that help them grow personally and professionally. These may include creative projects, industry visits, leadership workshops, tech workshops, event support, media opportunities, peer mentoring and community-based activities.

The programme helps young people apply their skills in real-world settings, strengthening their organisation, teamwork, communication, confidence and creative thinking. It also gives them the chance to build new friendships, expand their horizons and prepare for future opportunities in education, employment and wider life.

By becoming FJ Ambassadors, students continue their journey from participation to leadership, developing the confidence to represent themselves, their communities and Football Journeys with pride.

Book a Discovery Call
Book a Discovery Call