E-ACT The Oldham Academy North students have claimed victory in this year’s Manchester United Foundation Premier League Inspires social action challenge, triumphing over 100 pupils from 15 partner high schools during presentations held at Old Trafford.

The competition challenged participants to develop innovative approaches to promoting gender equality in football. TOAN’s winning concept—a primary school girls’ football festival—earned top honors from both judges and fellow students for its creativity, potential impact, and ability to inspire young female players. The team’s comprehensive community outreach plans to maximize participation particularly impressed the panel.

Their success secures a spot representing the Manchester United Foundation at the Premier League Inspires national finals at Wembley Stadium, where they will compete against representatives from other top clubs nationwide.

“As part of our project, we’re planning to do assemblies and presentations to help children understand and recognise things they might not have known about inequality, like viewing figures in men’s and women’s sport,” said Chloe, one of the TOAN students involved.

Mwezi, another team member, added: “This has been a great experience. It taught me a lot about equality that I didn’t know before, and it just helped me understand a lot more about females and equality in sports overall.”

Headteacher Jessica Giraud praised her students’ achievement: “We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and creativity in tackling gender equality in football. Their hard work and passion for making a difference have been truly inspiring, and we are thrilled to see them recognised at such a prestigious level. Representing the Manchester United Foundation at Wembley is an amazing achievement, and we can’t wait to see them showcase their ideas on a national stage.”

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