The Prince of Wales visited an NFL Foundation U.K. event in London today, meeting with 50 young people from communities from across the U.K. that the program supports.
The NFL Foundation U.K., celebrating its three-year anniversary, is the first NFL charitable arm outside of the U.S. and currently engages 23 community organisations across London, Birmingham, Greater Manchester and Leeds, reaching more than 6,000 young people.
The program delivers NFL Flag football in partnership with local community organizations to engage and inspire young people, in areas of high deprivation and low levels of physical activity – using the power of sport to change lives.
“The NFL Foundation U.K. is a powerful program that helps to change the lives of young people in communities that are often underrepresented and underserved,” said NFL U.K. and Ireland General Manager Henry Hodgson. “We are delighted to welcome The Prince of Wales to see the NFL Foundation U.K. in action and hear from the young people this program serves against the backdrop of the 2024 London Games.”
During the visit, His Royal Highness met with representatives from NFL U.K. and NFL Foundation U.K. to learn how they are supporting young people, speaking with program participants from community organizations including HR Academy (London), Connect Stars (London), Big Kid (London), Solidarity Community Association (Bolton) and Saathi House (Birmingham).
His Royal Highness took part in NFL Flag activities with young people from the program, alongside Louis Rees-Zammit, Jacksonville Jaguars player and NFL International Player Pathway (IPP) program alumni from Wales, Phoebe Schecter, GB Women’s Flag Football Team Captain, NFL Legend Jason Bell and British-born two-time Super Bowl champion, Osi Umenyiora.
“I’m really happy to be able to support the NFL Foundation U.K. and the great work they do, and I’m especially proud to represent the Jaguars who also have fantastic community programs across the U.K.,” said Rees-Zammit. “Meeting the Prince of Wales again was of course a real honour, especially as his presence spotlights the NFL’s work. It was also cool to see the kids in action on a flag football field and join in.”
Working in partnership with local community organizations the Foundation delivers NFL Flag football training and equipment to help young people aged 12-20 achieve positive outcomes focused on education, employment, building inclusive communities and improving physical and mental wellbeing.
Flag football, the non-contact format of American football, is fast-paced, inclusive and accessible. It is one of the fastest growing sports globally, with more than 20 million playing the game across 100 countries, with women and girls driving some of the largest growth.
Flag football’s historic inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program was announced in October 2023, led by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and supported by the NFL, who are committed to growing the game of flag football around the world long-term.
NFL Flag – the NFL’s official flag football program – is currently played in over 650 schools across the U.K., by more than 60,000 participants, including both boys and girls.
The NFL Foundation U.K. launched in 2021 in partnership with the Mayor of London’s ‘Sport Unites’ fund that saw the duo commit a combined £1 million to deliver the Foundation’s work in the capital. The program has since received funding from Sport England to expand beyond London to Greater Manchester and Birmingham, and to Leeds through a partnership with the San Francisco 49ers
The event follows two successful 2024 NFL London Games that have taken place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Oct. 6 and Oct. 13) and ahead of the final matchup at Wembley Stadium this weekend (New England Patriots – Jacksonville Jaguars, Oct. 20).
