Accrington Stanley Community Trust is delighted to be launching a free Summer Community Football Programme for young people across Hyndburn this summer, thanks to funding from thanks to funding from the Pride in Place programme.
The five-week programme will run from Monday 15th June to Friday 17th July 2026, providing free football sessions for young people aged 8-17 at locations across the borough during the FIFA World Cup period.
Delivered by Accrington Stanley Community Trust coaches, the sessions will provide a safe and enjoyable environment for young people to play football, develop their skills, socialise with friends and stay active throughout the summer.
Alongside the football activities, the programme will support Hyndburn’s Pride in Place initiative by engaging with young people and their families to gather feedback on the future of the borough and how a £20 million government investment can best benefit local communities.
Sami Smithson, Chair of the Accrington Neighbourhoods Board, said:
“The engagement activities that Accrington Stanley Community Trust will deliver during the World Cup period are part of the Pride in Place programme, helping us continue to engage with young people in the area that will benefit from the £20 million government investment.
The voice of young people is central to this work. We want to ensure the investment helps create a brighter future, giving them opportunities to be proud of where they live, grow up and contribute to as they mature.
Sport and physical activity are powerful ways to connect with young people, and I’m passionate about the role they can play. We trust the coaches at Accrington Stanley Community Trust, who do fantastic work in the community, to build on their relationships to gather valuable feedback on what young people and their families would like to see from this investment, helping Accrington thrive for this generation and those to come.”
Martin Fearon, CEO of Accrington Stanley Community Trust, added:
“We’re delighted to be working alongside Pride In Place to deliver this programme. The sessions will provide free football opportunities for young people across the borough while also giving them a platform to have their say on the future of their communities.
Our coaches have built strong relationships with young people and families across Hyndburn, and we’re looking forward to using those connections to support the Pride in Place programme while delivering enjoyable football sessions throughout the summer.”
While we are accepting children and young people that attend on the night it would help us massively if you could pre-register below. This will allow us to plan staffing and sessions accordingly.
For more information, please contact Accrington Stanley Community Trust on 01254 475013.