The latest impact data provides a powerful picture of the progress made throughout the year. An impressive 96% of young people said they felt inspired and engaged, while 90% reported improved confidence and self-esteem. A further 91% developed their skills and knowledge, 88% demonstrated more positive behaviours and 87% improved their physical wellbeing.
These outcomes reflect the programme’s focus on helping young people develop the skills, confidence and behaviours that can support them both at school and beyond.
The partnership between Harrison Foundation and Newcastle United Foundation began in 2017 and has since supported thousands of young people. Working closely with schools, the programme is designed to respond to the needs of students and provide additional opportunities to learn, develop and achieve.
This year’s figures also highlight the breadth of young people being reached. Among those taking part were 375 participants receiving pupil premium support and 251 participants with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), while 137 young people came from diverse ethnic communities. The programme also engaged 366 women and girls.
Beyond the classroom, young people were given opportunities to contribute to their communities, with 393 participating in social action projects during the year. A further 139 young people achieved a qualification through their involvement in the programme.
Physical activity remained an important part of the programme, with 11,395 hours of activity delivered during 2025/26. Extra-curricular activities generated 11,497 attendances over the course of the year, demonstrating the scale of students’ ongoing engagement.
Daniel Harrison MBE, Trustee of the Harrison Foundation, said: “These figures are something everyone involved in the Partner Schools Programme should be incredibly proud of. Every statistic represents a young person developing their confidence, learning new skills or becoming more engaged with their education. “That is why this partnership matters. We want young people to have access to opportunities that help them recognise their potential, whatever their circumstances or background. To see 96% of participants feeling inspired and engaged is particularly encouraging and we are delighted to continue working alongside Newcastle United Foundation and our partner schools to make a lasting difference.”
The latest results build on the strong outcomes achieved by the programme in previous years and demonstrate the value of a long-term partnership focused on creating opportunities for young people. We’re looking forward to building on that success with Newcastle United Foundation and our partner schools in the year ahead.