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A partnership built around opportunity

Starfish AP and Eastleigh Football Club have created a purposeful alternative provision for children and young people aged 7–16 who are finding mainstream education difficult.

The partnership combines personalised education, safeguarding and wellbeing support with the motivating environment of a professional football club. It gives learners a different way into education: calm, structured and built around trusted relationships, practical experiences and achievable success.

What the programme offers

Each learner follows a programme shaped around their needs, strengths, interests and agreed goals. Support includes personalised literacy and numeracy, AQA Unit Award Scheme opportunities, SEMH mentoring, practical learning, life-skills development and football coaching delivered by qualified staff.

Manageable three-hour sessions provide structure without overwhelming the learner. Cohorts are limited to 16 young people so that support remains personal, consistent and responsive.

Eastleigh Football Club and Starfish AP partnership at the Silverlake Stadium
View across the pitch at Eastleigh Football Club

Working together for each learner

Starfish AP leads education, safeguarding, admissions and each learner’s individual programme. Eastleigh Football Club contributes qualified coaching, sporting expertise and the inspiring stadium environment.

Football can create routine, motivation, teamwork and a strong sense of belonging, but this is more than a sports programme. Together, the partners help learners strengthen communication, emotional regulation, resilience and independence while continuing to make meaningful educational progress.

Get in touch

Talk to us about a placement

If you would like to discuss whether our Eastleigh Football Club site could be right for a child or young person, please contact our team.

Find us

Eastleigh Football Club
The Silverlake Stadium
Stoneham Lane
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO50 9HT