School can provide all types of challenges for young people, and Maisey was no exception.
The Wolves Foundation first came into contact with Year 9 students at Coppice Performing Arts School, delivering a 12-week Premier League Inspires programme at the school.
Before starting on a the Inspires programme with Wolves Foundation, Maisey seemed distant and disinterested in lessons and had even fallen out with her best friend.
The Foundation’s Premier League Inspires Officer, Kurran Kullar explains: “When Maisey first came along she was quite disengaged and not really paying attention, but the way she has grown is nothing short of amazing.
“Her engagement and participation levels have been excellent, and she deserves all the praise for what she has achieved.”
Inspires is one of the Premier League’s flagship education programmes, helping young people to develop the personal skills and positive attitudes to succeed in life.
The Premier League supports 44 professional football clubs to deliver the programme, with over 100,000 hours of targeted support for over 25,000 young people since the project launched in 2019.
Maisey admitted being apprehensive when she was approached to be part of the group, but has seen a big change in herself thanks to the work with Wolves Foundation.
She said: “I was a bit nervous the first time I walked in – I didn’t know if I would enjoy it. But at the end of the programme I was really sad to leave.
“It’s like a safe zone, a place where I can go and talk and forget about any issues. I’ve learned how to work in a different way, looking out for other people’s ideas as well and working together.
“I feel like I have progressed a lot, especially with my confidence.”
The staff have also seen a notable difference in Maisey. Head of Year 9 at Coppice Performing Arts School, Mrs Rhodes, says: “Maisey wouldn’t normally mix with some of the girls that we’ve had within the PL Inspires group.
“We’ve seen her interact with some of the girls she wouldn’t normally interact with and it has led to her forming friendships as a result of working with them on a weekly basis.”
But it isn’t only new friends. Maisey had also rebuilt a relationship with former best friend Maddison with the help of the programme.
Mrs Rhodes added: “Maddy and Maisey have had a history and they did fall out for quite a while, but it’s nice to see them back together again.
“I think now they are a bit older they understand each other a bit better. Working with the programme has really helped them and I think they’ll continue to be friends.”
Kurran from Wolves Foundation added: “Inspires is all about helping young people who are facing challenges as they go through school. We want to give students the tools to succeed.
“I know a lot of Maisey’s peers within that session have said how much she has grown, and her teacher too.
“We’re so proud of how she has progressed and it’s fantastic to see the Premier League’s programmes making a difference in Wolverhampton.”
