We are passionate about using football as a force for good across all levels of the game, and our ambition is to inspire the next generation of young people to live healthier lives. We know this will take time and collective resource, and – together with our partners - we are committed to that goal. The Greater Game is our purpose-led programme, centred in youth voice, aims to address the breadth of this complex challenge, creating a movement which encourages healthy living for all young people.

A fundamental part of The Greater Game programme is to develop a grassroots initiative. This has been co-created with Nuffield Health.  

The initiative will provide tools, support and resources under the pillars of Move, Think, Eat, Sleep. These materials are for parents and guardians, coaches and young people to equip them with everything they need to support young people’s health and wellbeing – from being more active to eating more healthily as well as the importance of sleep.

The initiative has been underpinned by robust external research by academics from the Institute for Sport and Physical Activity  Research at the University of Bedfordshire and researchers from the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London. Through engaging directly with the target audience, their behavioural concerns were identified, and intervention strategies recommended, with the aim to drive long-term change.

The pilot went live in April 2023 will be delivered to selected clubs in five County FAs: Berks & Bucks CFA, Cheshire and Manchester CFA, Leicestershire & Rutland CFA, Middlesex CFA and Somerset CFA, reaching over 100 coaches and parents and guardians and 2000 young people. Delivered in the form of educational workshops - participants are given practical tips and techniques that they can take away and put into practice on the pitch and at home. They are encouraged to empower the team themselves to take ownership, coming up with challenges and activities that inspire healthy behaviours. Qualitative focus groups with those from the pilot will help to better adapt the initiative ahead of a national rollout in early 2024.

The Greater Game will use the collective power and impact of football to help make a real change to the health and happiness of young people. We don’t have all the answers, but we know we cannot deliver this programme alone. It will only be realised through the invaluable help and expertise of existing and new partners, including Nuffield Health and M&S Food who joined The FA family in June 2022.

We also recognise there’s more we can do; the journey has just begun. It’s about making incremental steps towards our mission “to inspire at least one healthier action per week”. We’re determined to make change and will continue to look at different ways we can make a credible impact on people’s lives. We will look to add partners and further initiatives to The Greater Game programme, as it expands in the coming years.