21 Dec DAVID KASUMU REWARDS YOUNG PEOPLE AT NORTH HUDDERSFIELD TRUST SCHOOL

In October, Huddersfield Town midfielder David Kasumu attended an assembly at North Huddersfield Trust School to award students from our Premier League Kicks programme a very special prize to acknowledge their work in the launch of the Club’s Third Kit.

Last year, the Foundation explored new ways of hearing from the young people they work with. In a pilot mini-project within the Premier League Kicks Programme, the Town Foundation and North Huddersfield Trust School worked together with local music artist Joel Simmy to deliver a series of spoken word, poetry, and lyric-writing workshops designed to help students find new ways of expressing their emotions.

During the six-week programme, the Foundation and Simmy worked together to upskill students with tools to effectively capture their views on different subjects close to them, speaking about topics such as pride, faith and family. This collaboration resulted in lyrics that reinforced positivity and the opportunities available through endeavour and determination.

This led to an opportunity for the students to record a verse of their own on a track, which was produced by Josh Harris Beats, that would go on to be used in the launch of Town’s Third Kit back in July 2023.

The students stood shoulder-to-shoulder with First Team players Michał Helik, Sorba Thomas and Jaheim Headley, as well as Huddersfield Town Women stars Ria Montgomery and Beth Stanfield, as they got the opportunity to star in the launch video, which was filmed at the school!

In October, once students had settled into their new year groups after the end of their summer holidays, the Foundation returned to North Huddersfield Trust to reward the young people for their hard work and the impact they had.

Led by Simmy, the assembly allowed the students to showcase the great work that they had delivered in their community and for their local Football Club to their peers.

Each pupil that took part in the programme received a certificate before Kasumu surprised the students with a framed third shirt that was signed by the whole squad. This was gifted to the school as a memento and proud reminder of the young people’s fantastic achievements.

Senior Youth Engagement Manager Joe Scargill commented:

“We are always looking at innovative ways of capturing youth voice. This project gave us the opportunity to amplify the voices of some of the amazing young people we work with. Ashbrow is home to so many inspiring people supporting their community and the lyrics these young people have recorded do a tremendous job of highlighting that.

“To have the track accompany the third kit launch, which was filmed at North Huddersfield Trust, is incredible. And then to have David present the group with a signed shirt will be a memory that will live with them for years.”

 Utilising funds generously provided by the Premier League Charitable Fund, Premier League Kicks uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential. Huddersfield Town Foundation delivers the Premier League Kicks programme in wards across the Kirklees district, including Ashbrow.

Forming part of the Premier League Kicks programme, this project was funded by the Seedlings Foundation, a West Yorkshire charity that awards small grants to support the provision of education and care for children.

The project was also supported by Utilita Giving. Utilita Giving was set up to support people in fuel and food poverty across England, Scotland and Wales. From helping households with fuel support payments to providing community groups with low-cost cooking equipment to supporting the most vulnerable in their area – they work closely with several national and community foodbank charities and have strong relationships with both National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland. Underlining the theme of the kit, Utilita Giving donates £2 to the Foundation for EVERY third shirt sold.

The Foundation places its special thanks to North Huddersfield Trust School, Joel Simmy, and Huddersfield Town AFC for their commitment to the delivery of this project. We are extremely proud of the outcome!

If you would like to find out more about the Premier League Kicks programme, please email help@htafcfoundation.com for more information.