GENERAL NEWS NEWS...
Government backs EFL and British Esports workshops to help disadvantaged young people
Innovation Fund.
EFL in the Community will oversee national coordination, governance, and monitoring of the campaign, while Sheffield United’s Community Foundation is acting as the accountable body. Sheffield Hallam University will also provide external advisory input.
British Esports is a national partner for the project, with funds going towards delivering specialist training, content development and accreditation as part of the Play it Safe model. British Esports will deliver e-learning and one-day in-person training for 60 facilitators from 10 Football Club charities. Training will cover safeguarding, wellbeing, digital confidence, online safety and positive esports delivery. The hope is for a successful pilot to lead to a national rollout across the 72-club EFL network.
British Esports, the national esports federation for the United Kingdom, has secured funding to kick off a pilot campaign with the English Football League (EFL), using esports to support young people. The new ‘Safe to Play’ campaign – set to run across 10 Football Club communities – will use esports to help 400 young people build digital skills, confidence and stay safe online.
It will empower trained facilitators to deliver guidance informed by the British Esports Federation’s ‘Duty to Care in Esports’ framework in order to create opportunities for disadvantaged youth. The Safe to Play project will adapt esports as a vehicle for digital inclusion in their existing Football Club charities youth programmes. Each club will deliver a 6–8 week programme of weekly workshops and esports play sessions, combining practical digital learning for young people, within a fun, safe and trusted environment. The programme has been approved for funding by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) under the Digital Inclusion
Debbie Cook, Director of Community at the English Football League (EFL), said: “The Safe to Play campaign is an exciting and innovative way to support young people in our EFL Club communities. Using esports as a vehicle for digital inclusion, online safety, and wellbeing, we’re equipping disadvantaged young people with essential skills for the modern world.” Chester King, British Esports President, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to receive the Government’s support for this new Safe to Play campaign with the EFL. This backing will allow us to work alongside Sheffield United’s Community Foundation and other partners to deliver vital digital skills and online safety training to young people through esports.”
The news comes as the UK Government unveils plans to tackle youth isolation by investing £500m as part of a new National Youth Strategy designed to rebuild youth services.
‘Youth Matters’ has been co-produced with more than 14,000 young people across England through a ‘State of the Nation’ survey in a bid to tackle isolation and build real life connections.
Russell Hobbs partners with world hunger charity on new initiative in UK schools
Russell Hobbs has launched a nationwide school campaign and competition across the UK as part of its charity partnership with Action Against Hunger, to raise awareness of global hunger and inspire children to “cook for good”. The Plates for Change initiative, delivered in collaboration with We Are Futures and The National Schools Partnership (NSP) network, will see Key Stage 4–6 pupils (ages 7–11) learn about the impacts of hunger and why nutrition matters.
Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera, Director of Nutrition and Health at Action Against Hunger, said: “Good nutrition is fundamental to a child’s ability to learn, grow and thrive. By helping pupils understand the realities of hunger and the part they can play in addressing it, this initiative builds knowledge that endures well beyond the classroom. Plates for Change offers a practical, engaging way to spark that awareness while strengthening children’s understanding of what good nutrition means for them and for communities around the world.”
Schools interested in taking part in Plates for Change can access the campaign’s suite of curriculum-aligned resources by registering through the NSP website. The resources include lesson plans, presentations, and activity worksheets designed to help teachers spark meaningful discussions both in
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the classroom and at home about the power of nutrition. The lessons will guide students through topics such as: how hunger affects people in the UK and worldwide, what healthy eating looks like in different countries and the impact nutrition has on sleep, learning, growth, energy, and emotions. Registered primary schools will also be invited to take part in a nationwide competition to create their own ‘Plates for Change’. Students will use their creativity to design plates that tell a story about hunger, showcasing what they have learned in the classroom. Entries will be independently judged by a panel including representatives from Russell Hobbs and Action Against Hunger, as well as experts in food and drink with schools competing for prizes worth up to £1,750 - all while raising awareness and inspiring action on this important issue.
Discussing the educational campaign, Robyn Milner, Global Brand Partnerships Manager at Spectrum Brands, said: “Our Plates for Change campaign aims to kickstart conversations in classrooms and at home, helping children understand the link between nutrition and wellbeing. Russell Hobbs is proud to play a part in providing nutritional education inspiring creativity, and we look forward to seeing schools engage and share their designs.”
January 2026
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