Why?
Oldham’s Aftercare Football Group is made up of care-experienced young people who came together to create a safe, inclusive and motivating space through football. The idea started from conversations with young people who no longer had access to regular football once they left care. They wanted something local, free and welcoming where they could stay active, make friends and feel part of a community.
What?
The Aftercare Football Group was set up, offering weekly training sessions for care leavers in Oldham. There is no fee to join the group and sessions are held locally to ensure they are accessible.
The team also took part in the inaugural National Leaving Care Cup, which took place at Molineux, the Wolverhampton Wanderers stadium, in June 2025. Read more about this competition here (link to BBC news article).
What difference did it make?
The sessions have not only improved fitness and wellbeing but also built structure, responsibility and confidence.
Feedback from young people includes:
“Weekly football gets me out and helps me make new friends.”
“Football is like meeting up with family, with people I trust.”
Many young people also spoke about how attending regularly “is good for my routine, I look forward to it.”
The group’s impact goes far beyond sport though and members of the group have met the Mayor of Oldham, taken part in consultations to improve the Care Leaver Offer, and contributed to projects such as the Life Story Work Group. Their feedback has influenced local services, and the football group has become a platform for their voices to be heard. The results speak for themselves. Five young people have secured employment and another five have enrolled in college.
This case study was shortlisted for the Participation Award at the A National Voice Awards 2025, and came in 2nd place.