Since 1997 the Premier League, along with the PFA and the Football Foundation, have been committed to changing young lives through The Prince's Trust Football Initiative. It has been hugely successful, helping more than 11,000 young people either get back into education, find employment or simply develop their confidence and drive for life.

The initiative, which was launched at Old Trafford, began with football clubs providing stadium tours and signed merchandise to The Prince's Trust 12-week development course, Team.

Today more than 60 professional football clubs, including all 20 Premier League clubs, support The Trust through a number of different projects:

 Team: The course has now developed with football clubs now offering participants full use of their facilities for presentations and study work, delivering educational workshops on topics such as leading a healthy lifestyle. Clubs also help with sport and exercise sessions, community project support and tours of the stadia. First team players also make appearances, often talking to the young people about the determination and drive they needed to make it to the top.
 Get Into: Clubs give work experience (for example in the club shop, hospitality areas and groundkeeping) to young people to help them develop vocational skills and understand the nature of having different types of job.
 Get Started: Clubs deliver a week-long engagement programme where young people can go on to gain their FA Level One coaching certificate.
 Development Awards: Young people who have graduated from football linked programmes can get cash awards to help them into work, training or education.

The kudos of working with Premier League football clubs is a major factor in helping The Trust recruit and engage young people.

 Over 160 Teams linked to football clubs were delivered in 2007/2008, helping change the lives of over 2,000 young people
 2 in 3 young people went on to education, work or training
 99% of young people who took part in a football-linked Team would recommend the programme to a friend or relative

Football Initiative funding has helped to pilot this new engagement programme in the North West. In 2007/2008:
 the Football Initiative delivered 15 pilot programmes, with five linked to Young Offender Institutions
 87% young people taking part in Get Started with Football in the North West went into employment, education or training

Recent stories on the Prince's Trust Football Initiative:

2008 saw the Trust announce renewed funding from the Premier League and its other football partners, allowing it to concentrate on delivering its football projects for the next three years. An event to mark this was held at Hindley Young Offenders Unit, where the Prince's Trust works with Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic to deliver a Get Started programme. The clubs sent their Prince's Trust ambassadors, striker Kevin Davies and England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who along with Blackburn Rovers' Brett Emerton helped coach the young people with some football drills.

For more information on the Prince's Trust, click here

More Premier League stories on the Prince's Trust:

Shittu inspires Prince's Trust youngsters

Mikel adds support to youth programme

Toon duo turn hand to gardening

Duo help kids learn skills for life