Changing Lives Community Services has two football‑based projects that use sport to strengthen mental health, inclusion and youth development in Harlow. Changing Lives FC – Mental Health Kickaround offers weekly two‑hour sessions combining football with guided community mental health coaching for migrants, asylum seekers and local residents. The Community Football Initiative provides weekly term‑time football for children aged 4–11, building on an existing club to keep sessions low‑cost or free for families on low incomes while linking to wider family support and youth leadership pathways.

What will the Kao SEED Fund support?

For Changing Lives FC – Mental Health Kickaround, Kao SEED funding will cover staff wages and refreshments for 32 weekly sessions, plus promotional materials and videography to document and share the project. For the Community Football Initiative, the fund will support 39 weeks of delivery by paying for facility hire, equipment such as balls, bibs and first aid, marketing, website fees, insurance and FA‑linked coaching qualifications. Together, this investment underwrites safe spaces, skilled facilitation and sustainable infrastructure across both football programmes.

Who is the project helping support?

The Mental Health Kickaround targets migrants, asylum seekers and local residents of all backgrounds, using football as a shared language to reduce stigma, encourage contact and improve wellbeing. The Community Football Initiative focuses on children aged 4–11, especially from low‑income families who face barriers to traditional club football, offering free places for those on Universal Credit. Both projects also support parents, local businesses and referrers such as youth justice teams, schools and health services, by providing constructive, accessible activities and clear referral routes into wider support.

Find out more:

https://www.changinglivescommunityservices.com/changinglivesfc

https://www.facebook.com/ChangingLivesInHarlow/

https://www.instagram.com/changing_l1ves/?hl=en