Playing for Success is a Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) initiative established in partnership with sports clubs and local authorities. PfS at Forest Green Rovers FC works in partnership with DCSF, Gloucestershire County Council, The Football Foundation and Forest Green Rovers FC. The aim of the centre is to provide study support activities over twenty hours to children and young people that are need of a boost in Maths, Literacy and ICT skills by encouraging independent learning and increasing students’ confidence, self-esteem and motivation.

The Playing for Success Centre at Forest Green Rovers FC is the newest of the three centres in the county, opening in February 2007. There are other centres at Gloucester Rugby Club and Cheltenham Racecourse.

The centre works with schools to help target children and young people, aged 9-13, that they feel would benefit from the activities at Playing for Success. The activities that students undertake are tailored to the specific needs of the students through personalised learning programmes.

Young people have benefited from the range of activities run by PfS including stadium tours, measuring the pitch, meeting and interviewing players, making animation and short films, researching information about the club and its rivals and taking part in a range of physical activities.

Our evaluation concluded that PfS was having a positive impact on the students we were working with helping raise self-esteem and improve motivation. Schools, parents and pupils themselves all commented on the positive experience being involved with PfS