Last week, participants from more than 40 clubs across England and Wales came together at Wembley Stadium to be a part of the latest Premier League Inspires Challenge celebration.
Since last September, secondary school students have been creating social action projects to help tackle gender inequality at their football clubs and in their communities.
The teams have taken part in heats for the right to represent their club at Wembley Stadium, where they took part in workshops and were able to present their ideas to fellow Premier League Inspires participants.
The Challenge is one element of the Premier League Inspires programme, which clubs run on a weekly basis to support 11-to-18-year-olds who may be at risk of not reaching their potential as they move through the education system and early adulthood.
We spoke to some of those who attended the celebration at Wembley Stadium to find out what Premier League Inspires means to them.
Hamta, Newcastle United
"Our project is tackling misogynistic language in schools and how we can raise awareness and develop understanding. We see it as a big issue. It's quite a transferable project so it's not only something that can be put in schools it can be developed anywhere.
"We hosted lectures and parental workshops, and we talked about our project to the entire school. We also contacted external experts so we could gain more understanding.
"We hear misogynistic language and wanted to create a system where people feel like that they have the understanding to address it. More people are reporting it and feeling comfortable talking about what's going on.
"Having boys in our team makes a difference, it really gives inspiration to other people, other young boys in the school, to say it's not right. It gives them a role model.
"Premier League Inspires has made a big difference to me, it's helped me develop traits within my character to be the best possible version of myself.
"In school, I wasn't necessarily the perfect role model, I wasn't always respectful, and it's given me the insight on how I should be respecting everyone. We are all equal. My behaviour is different now. There's been a big change.
"When I look at where I started to where I am now, it gives me more confidence to do more things in the future. I'm proud."
Gloria, West Ham United
"We created a football kit that can be worn by both genders. We wanted to inspire young women as well as young men to take up sports.
"It's extremely important to see role models. Representation is one of the most important things, not just in sports but in other fields too. That's how you engage people into what you are doing. If you see someone who looks like you, you will think 'I can do that too.'
"The experience of being at Wembley Stadium is really surreal. I've never been to events like this. Being able to express our opinions and ideas means a lot, especially as young people. It has made me realise that I can do big things.
"It's extremely important that our voices are heard. The world cannot run without young people. There's been a lot of progression in terms of opinions and ideas and it's great to see.
"This project has brought out a different side to me. I'm quiet, I've always kept to myself but this opportunity has helped me break out of my comfort zone. It was scary at first but I got more comfortable and now I feel I could happily express my opinions more. As I grow up, this experience will help me a lot. It's amazing."
Kian, Brentford
"We came up with the idea of public speaking workshops. Public speaking helped to raise my confidence and if other young people have the same opportunity, the world would be a different place. It will allow them to speak up, not just about gender inequality but about other issues such as mental health.
"Once I found out I had the talent for public speaking, I felt that I shouldn't waste it. I should use it for something good. I hope that once I leave here, some of the young people I've met are going to have a different view because of the way I acted.
"Earlier on in secondary school I was getting into trouble, I had an attitude but I decided to sort myself out. I realised I had talents for things and I realised how many opportunities I had. School life is good now.
"I would bottle everything up. That's where the attitude came from. I thought that other people didn't understand me, so I'd take it out on them.
"It means everything to me that I have been able to show my change. I am a completely different person now. Premier League Inspires has showed me that there is another way."
Izzy Christiansen, former Birmingham City, Manchester City, Lyon, Everton and England midfielder
"Being here is eye opening and heartwarming. I've loved engaging in these projects and chatting with the kids. The common denominator is football but they all come from different backgrounds.
"They're oozing confidence because they're so passionate about what they're speaking about. Try to show what you love doing, what sets a fire inside your belly, that's a lesson in itself. The skills that these young people are developing on this programme will help them for the future.
"This social change is bulletproofing the future, if this is a small sample of what's going on around the country, then it's pretty exciting.
"The participants involved in this programme are not in a privileged situation. They're here because they're trying to better themselves and the clubs are giving them the opportunity to do that."
Warren Doyle, PE teacher, Glenmoor and Winton Academies, Bournemouth
"We invited some of our students who maybe wouldn't necessarily get the opportunity to visit Wembley Stadium or to take part in an event like this, to be able to learn real skills, not just on the pitch but off it as well.
"They've come up with their own ideas. It's nothing to do with me. They've done some fantastic things. They've led assemblies, they've interviewed one of the AFC Bournemouth walking football teams and they brought that walking football coaching session back to school and delivered it to the younger years. It's incredible to see what they've created.
"One of our team is not from the UK, English isn't her first language, but she says she feels more confident speaking to her team-mates and communicating with us. She now wants to be a coach.
"I could not be more proud of them. As a teacher, you want to enhance communication and leadership skills, you want well-rounded individuals that of course leave school with the best grades possible but also leave school as excellent characters. What I've seen in the last few months is these young women develop as characters. It's amazing.
"Young people sometimes have a bad reputation but you look around the room and all the young people here, some of the work that they have done is incredible. It's forcing them to be leaders, to be communicators, to come out of their comfort zone. What we need more of in society is more of these young people who are going to step forward and make a change in a positive way."
Sianna, Leeds United
"Our project is about raising awareness of and addressing period poverty and in school we have created a pack of sanitary products that girls can access.
"It's important because if we don't have affordable kits, then women can suffer in life. Their education can be affected because of not coming into school or not focusing well in classes. It hasn't really surprised me how much people are using our packs because we knew there was an issue.
"It's really nice being at Wembley Stadium and spreading the word to other people and also to adults so that they know what we're trying to say.
"Presenting my idea here makes me feel like I'm helping other people. Not only am I trying to say something, I'm being helpful and having an impact on others. It makes me happy and proud.
"Being a part of this has helped me be more confident and to speak up. I wouldn't do that before. I would be really shy. Before, I was never really interested in stuff like this. I feel that I can do it. It's given me resilience."
Hollie, Burnley
"It's important to show girls in our school that they can play and that taking part in sport is fun. We have held mixed tournaments in school with at least two girls or two boys in the team. Everyone was getting involved. We are thinking of expanding the project to netball, basketball and badminton.
"Gender equality is important to me because I feel like girls are always underestimated. I don't think it's right to be unequal to somebody. This subject is more visible because the Premier League are involved.
"This has shown me that we are very alike. When we've been put in a group with two other lads we like and do a lot of the same things.
"Things can change and I've been involved in making that change, even if it's just a little bit, I've been involved."
Tom, Bolton Wanderers
"We came up with the idea of a walk and talk for men. It's an opportunity to make friends and open up. Men feel they have to be strong but it's OK not to be OK. It's important to me because a lot of men go through a lot of things. You need to check on people.
"Being at Wembley Stadium at this event is a blessing. Not a lot of people get opportunities like this. I get to represent the club I support and I'm surrounded by good people who I like. We've done so well as a team as well and I feel proud we've come so far.
"At school we talked about gender inequality and how we can address it. It is bad that some people think one gender is more superior than another because actually we're all the same, we are all human beings. It doesn't really make a difference what gender you are.
"Before the Premier League Inspires Challenge I was quieter and didn't really care much about people. But now that I've got to communicate with others, I've made many more friends and become nicer. I am much more confident speaking with people now."
Millie, Blackpool
"This event is a fantastic opportunity to promote gender equality. People are able to share their stories and information. I've learnt a lot by going around the other tables and meeting the other groups.
"There's so many ways to spread awareness about gender equality and to see other people's ideas has been amazing. They're really inspiring. Being here will increase my motivation, knowing that other people are in the same situation as me. It gives me the confidence to speak out.
"It's not about what you can't do, it's that you can do it, you can come out of your comfort zone.
"Being a part of this has really helped me and it's made me happy to know that people care about gender equality. It's made me realise that people are on my side. It's a big thing because when I was told I wasn't allowed to play football, I felt shut off. Now I feel like I've got all my team behind me, cheering me on, saying you can do it.
"Premier League Inspires is about people caring. They don't just say it, they show it as well. It's good to know that there's organisations and communities out there that help."
What is Premier League Inspires?
Premier League Inspires uses the appeal of football to help children and young people aged 11-to-18 to develop the personal skills and positive attitude to succeed in life. More than 30,000 young people have received more than 130,000 hours of targeted support across 1000+ schools and educational facilities since the programme's launch in 2019.
The programme is delivered by 45 professional football club community organisations and is supported by the Professional Footballers' Association and the Premier League. More than £14.5m has been invested into the programme, via the Premier League Charitable Fund.
