"It's showing me that I can be more than what I thought I could be. It's showed me what I'm capable of."
DJ, Premier League Inspires participant, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust
DJ is one of more than 2.5 million participants that have been impacted by the life-changing work of the Premier League Foundation since it began in 2010.
And to mark the Foundation's 15-year anniversary, DJ and the rest of his Premier League Inspires team from The Green School for Boys in Brentford - Kian, Mason and Moses - joined other special guests and MPs at a celebration event in Westminster to tell their story.
Hosted by broadcaster and journalist Gabby Logan, the celebration shone a light on how the Premier League Foundation uses Premier League funding to tackle inequalities and raise aspirations by supporting 106 professional football club charities across England and Wales.
"I'm a proud patron of the Newcastle United Foundation and through that work, I've seen close up exactly what you all do in your foundations at the clubs and with your community initiatives," she said.
"It really harnesses the power of football to reach so many people who, for whatever reason, their life, their circumstances, children who are in areas where resources aren't great, are able to get involved with educational programmes and lifestyle programmes that really do enhance their lives, their prospects and their enjoyment."
One of the special guests at the event was Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and who, as MP for Wigan, has seen how Premier League Foundation has worked with Wigan Athletic FC in her local area.
"I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be here, to celebrate with you all, the people in this room, who've helped to make the last 15 years of these amazing programmes an enormous success," she said.
"Don't take my word for it. Take the word of the incredible young people who've been through these programmes, who have gone on to do some amazing things and become role models for the young people who come after them.
"It's personal for me because in my town we've been the beneficiaries of the Premier League's vision and foresight to invest in that generation of young people. I've seen for myself the difference that it makes.
"Not every child in this country is going to go on and play for a Premier League club or for their country but every child in this country has a dream and every child in this country deserves a chance and that really is the ethos behind the work that the Premier League is leading."
Guests were able to learn more about the programmes and funds, Premier League Kicks, Premier League Primary Stars, Premier League Inspires and the Premier League and PFA Players' Fund, that have, and will continue to make, such an impact on both participants and communities alike.
"The Premier League has become a global success and we're really proud of it," said Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive. "That success allows us to invest in the rest of the pyramid and we're very, very pleased and proud to be able to do so.
"In the last three year cycle, £1.6bn was invested outside of the Premier League. The funding the Foundation distributes enables professional club charities to tackle some of society's toughest challenges and long-standing programmes show the incredible impact that football can have on those who most need support.
"We remain committed to do all of this work, to keep the funding flowing, so that clubs can transform lives week in week out."
As well as highlighting the Premier League Foundation programmes, the evening also focused on the participants, teachers and coaches who are involved in these initiatives throughout the year.
The Green School for Boys team represented the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust at this year's Premier League Inspires Challenge, which empowers young people through life skills, mentoring and social action.
The focus of this year's Challenge was gender equality, with the Brentford team providing workshops to help young people with public speaking so they can find their voice and their confidence when talking about subjects close to their heart.
"It's the power of public speaking, not just speaking up about just the wrong things but speaking up about the right things," said Kian from The Green School for Boys. "It's really helped me change as a person.
"The power of being heard, especially as a young person in this generation, is very strong. If more people have the ability to be heard, it's really life changing.
"I've learned to be disciplined in the way I communicate and that has helped with my discipline at school. Confidence goes hand in hand with my maturity. My lack of confidence made me want to act out. I felt if I didn't act a certain way, I would stray from a group, but the confidence to do good things has led me to be with good people."
Teacher and TikTok star Kit Brown has been using the free Premier League Primary Stars resources since he started teaching and is a passionate advocate for how the programme can engage and inspire his pupils.
"It's easy for us to look at the Premier League and look at the glitz and the glamour of the footballers and the best league in the world but underneath that is a real organisation that cares about making a difference," he said.
"I've been so lucky to work with so many incredible people and see the difference that it's made in my school, in our community, and actually seeing the work that they do across our country and across the world is genuinely incredible. To be a small cog in the whole factory of work is brilliant. It's a special feeling."
The guests also heard about Year 6 student Michaela from St Chad's Roman Catholic Primary School in south London, who recently won a national Premier League Primary Stars poetry competition for Crystal Palace's Palace for Life Foundation as part of the Premier League's No Room For Racism campaign.
"Michaela is an inspirational young lady," says St Chad's headteacher Tamsyn Lawlor. "She's our head girl and she has got such a bright and positive personality. She's very vibrant and incredibly articulate. We're so proud of her.
"It's so nice that our little primary school in South Norwood can get that exposure. It's so great for our children, because they do come from some very challenging areas. We do have difficulties, like all schools do, but we have a very cohesive and happy school community.
"Being part of Premier League Primary Stars and the Palace for Life Foundation is so important. It empowers our young people. The Premier League Foundation creates opportunity and that's what we all strive to do as educators, to provide our children with as many opportunities as possible."
To find out more about the Premier League Foundation, and the Premier League's continued investment into communities across England and Wales, please read our Foundation timeline.