CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE: CELEBRATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ROLE MODELS

Football Beyond Borders and Gillette team up to shine a light on the trusted adults transforming young lives

The official 2024/25 season may be over, but Football Beyond Borders (FBB) and Gillette have teamed up to crown this year’s community champions – with a little help from Gillette ambassador and England & Arsenal legend Ian Wright.

The Champions for Change event honoured practitioners from the FBB youth education charity – trusted adults who provide mentorship, guidance and stability to some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities.

The event opened with a powerful photographic exhibition by Nessie Appleton Smith designed to bring to life what it means to be a ‘trusted adult’ through the eyes of the boys in the FBB programme. The evening then celebrated the impact of the practitioners of FBB in classrooms across London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Gillette ambassador Ian Wright was on hand to give out the award for ‘Trusted Adult of the Year’ and said: "Seeing how much the FBB practitioners mean to the guys they work with is so cool. I've spoken about my role models a lot, and it's great to know that there are so many young people benefiting from the FBB and Gillette partnership."

Liam Sargeant, Senior Communications Manager, Gillette, said: “We’re so proud of our partnership with Football Beyond Borders and it was so special to see this inspiring group of FBB role models be celebrated for the impact they make daily to the lives of young people in classrooms across the UK. The practitioners are the heart of FBB and to witness first-hand the impact they make by consistently showing up as a trusted adult for the young people they support is always truly moving.”

Champions for Change is the latest event in a six-year partnership that has seen Gillette work with FBB to help inspire the next generation to be the best that they can be. FBB connects young people from areas of socio-economic disadvantage who are passionate about football with long-term mentors to help them finish school with the skills and grades needed to make a successful transition into adulthood.