How football is supporting rehabilitation in South Yorkshire

• Winning Ways is a six-week programme that uses football and wellbeing support to help men on probation make positive, lasting changes to their lives.
• The programme is delivered in partnership with Barnsley FC, Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, and the Growth Company as part of the Personal Wellbeing Service.
• Find out how taking part in sport is helping participants build confidence, develop new skills, and reduce their chances of reoffending.

A pioneering scheme in South Yorkshire is using sport to help men on probation get back on their feet, and it’s already yielding results.

Winning Ways is a six-week course designed to give them the tools to make positive changes to their lives and, ultimately, cut their chances of reoffending. The programme is split between two hour-long sessions each week.

The first one is delivered by the charitable foundations of the region’s professional football clubs, including Barnsley FC, Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United, Sheffield United, and Sheffield Wednesday. It aims to promote fitness, confidence, teamwork, and routine through physical activity. Participants join in a wide range of exercises, from football and table tennis to gym-based workouts and boxing.

The Growth Company oversees the second session, which involves learning about the ins-and-outs of wellbeing in a friendly classroom setting. 

Football clubs at the heart of their communities

The most recent cohort also had the opportunity to partake in some extra-curricular activities.

Through their partnership with the two local football clubs, the Winning Ways team was able to offer participants stadium tours and matchday tickets for Barnsley and Sheffield Utd, which, for obvious reasons, went down especially well with Tykes and Blades fans.

What’s more, in Barnsley, during the final week of the programme, participants played in a friendly football match against learners from Barnsley Recovery College, bringing together two similar groups and connecting them to positive community resources. 

One probation officer told us that this unique approach had made a big difference for one of the participants: “I saw Marcus today and asked how it went; straight off the back of this his face lit up.* He was so expressive and excited, telling me about his involvement in the session (particularly his football skills that he got to show off).

“Since release, Marcus has been very closed off in appointments with little facial expressions or body language. However, today I saw a completely different side to him.

“He was very animated and expressive when talking about his positive experience, and it was clear the session has had a positive impact on his current wellbeing, giving him something to look forward to each week.

“Football is a big passion for him, so having the opportunity to express this has been amazing for him, even after just one session.

“I’m hoping his continued attendance at the sessions will further boost his confidence and self-esteem in interacting with others.”

Personal Wellbeing Service

Winning Ways is part of the Personal Wellbeing Service. Delivered by the Growth Company in Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, and South Yorkshire, the Personal Wellbeing Service helps men on probation build the skills, confidence, and connections needed to make positive changes and move forward with their lives.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 35-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Learn more about our justice support services.

* Name changed to protect the participant's anonymity.