Football Beyond Borders & Impetus

The need: More than 9,000 young people were permanently excluded in the UK in 2023. Only around 5% of excluded young people pass their GCSEs in English and maths. There is strong evidence to suggest that Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) interventions can promote the development of social and emotional skills, which lead to gains in academic performance.

Our portfolio partner: Football Beyond Borders uses football to support young people who are disengaged or at risk of exclusion from school to gain the qualifications and skills they need to successfully transition to adulthood. Their four-year programme drives SEL through classroom-based group work, one-to-one therapeutic mentoring, and pitch-based football sessions, ultimately improving engagement and achievement at school.

Our impact: We’ve worked with Football Beyond Borders to further refine their impact management and evaluation practice, developing innovative methodologies to further understand and demonstrate their impact on young people. We have also supported the delivery and refinement of their current strategy, which aims to improve outcomes for many more young people by working with pastoral staff in the school system, alongside their direct programming.

We've loved working with Impetus. They have been so important in keeping us focused on impact, while supporting us to take the difficult decisions necessary for commercial viability at scale. And as a Co-Founder and Chief Executive, I've developed so much through the rigour, wisdom and expertise that the Impetus Investment Directors and pro bono partners have brought to my decision making and leadership.

Jack Reynolds, Co-founder and CEO, Football Beyond Borders