The provision is free for children and youngsters across the country between the ages of eight and 18, encouraging them to socialise and take part in football activities in order to positively impact their physical and mental health.
Funded by the Premier League through the Premier League Foundation, CITC has been delivering the programme since its launch in 2006, supporting youth in ten locations across Greater Manchester.
CITC’s Head of Operations, Lisa McKay, reflected on the impact of the past 20 years. She said: “Our Kicks programme is super special and the work we do is absolutely phenomenal.
“They offer a safe space for our young people, they offer physical activity, but they also support their mental health and wellbeing.
“We talk to them about education and staying in school as well as empowering pro-social behaviours and building their confidence and self-esteem.
“It brings so much to our young people and to our workforce, and it’s a real fundamental part of who we are here at City in the Community.”
CITC Trustee, Nedum Onuoha described why he thinks that Kicks is such an important part of the community, adding: “I think for something to have gone on for 20 years is incredibly impressive, but it also shows the needs that are still existing within the city.
“The fact that we’ve been able to keep funding it, to have the right people there, to have the same sort of impacts year in, year out is incredible.”
Kicks creates opportunities for young people who are at risk of anti-social behaviour, youth violence to regularly engage in football, sport, mentoring and personal development opportunities.
Speaking about their time on Kicks, one participant said: “Kicks gives us a safe space to keep away from trouble.
“I feel more positive about where I live now because we can go to Kicks sessions.”
During the 2024/2025 season CITC’s Kicks programme supported 2,705 unique participants over 615 sessions, giving each of them an average of 19 hours.
To register your interest in attending a Kicks session, visit: https://bit.ly/4lIC9mU
With thanks to the Premier League Foundation for supporting the programme.
If you want to support City in the Community and its work, enter this month’s Prize Draw competition, for the chance to win a Team Photo Experience, Match Tickets and more.
The City in the Community Prize Draw is powered by Raise Your Game and your support will go towards sustaining the charity’s programmes, which empower healthier lives through football.
Entries start at £5 per ticket; fans can enter on a one-off basis, or they can sign up to a direct debit, meaning they enter the draw monthly automatically. *
City in the Community empowers healthier lives through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/citc or follow @citcmancity on social media.
*Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, Qatar, Lebanon, and North Korea are the only excluded countries from the prize draw.
