As part of the Premier League’s More Than A Game campaign, renowned actor Idris Elba and West Ham United joined the Premier League at Leisure United’s Bobby Moore Sports Hub in Parsloes Park on the 10th February.
The £13.1m Hub, featuring football pitches named after Sir Trevor Brooking, Paul Ince and Chloe Kelly, was funded by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and a £6.1m grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, and is already having a transformative impact on the local community since its opening last year.
Accompanied by West Ham United Head Coach Graham Potter and Captain Jarrod Bowen, Elba engaged with young participants and coaches, hearing first-hand about the vital work being done through the Premier League Kicks programme to provide participants with safe places to play and positive opportunities that help them fulfil their potential.
Leisure United were honoured to host such an event for our local and national partners, showcasing our commitment to fostering community engagement and providing a range of physical activity and health & well-being opportunities for the local community.
Premier League Kicks has been a beacon of hope for young people in high-need areas since its inception in 2006. The programme, which offers free weekly football sessions, aims to create safer and more inclusive communities. It has already provided over one million hours of free sessions, engaging more than 550,000 young people.
During his visit, Elba emphasised the importance of belonging and community. “It’s incredible witnessing what the Premier League Kicks programme has done and how it engages young people,” he said. “That sense of belonging is important. You never know what any of these kids are going through at home, but here feels like family.”
The event also celebrated Arran Johny, West Ham’s Community Captain, who has made significant contributions through his work with the club’s Foundation. Johny’s efforts, including the Jigsaw Mentoring Programme and the MyEnds project, have been pivotal in supporting young people at risk of criminal activity.