Leyton Orient Trust strengthens youth safety work across Waltham Forest through new investment
Leyton Orient Trust is expanding its targeted youth engagement work across Waltham Forest through investment from Waltham Forest Council's Stronger Together programme and the Premier League Kicks Police Partnerships Fund.
The Trust was initially awarded funding through Waltham Forest Council's Stronger Together programme, supporting targeted sports-based youth engagement in areas identified through local Community Safety intelligence.
Building on this investment, Leyton Orient Trust subsequently secured match funding from the Premier League through the Premier League Foundation's Premier League Kicks Police Partnerships Fund, supporting delivery for up to 18 months.
The PL Police Partnerships Fund is designed to bring football club community organisations together with policing, community safety and violence reduction partners. The Trust has therefore aligned the two funding streams to strengthen one coordinated programme of targeted youth engagement across Waltham Forest.
Creating safe spaces in local communities
Throughout summer 2026, Leyton Orient Trust delivered free community-based sessions across Abbots Park, Wood Street, Priory Court, Salisbury Hall and Ive Farm.
Locations have been informed by local intelligence, community need and discussions with Waltham Forest Community Safety and local partners, enabling resources to be directed towards areas where young people may be at greater risk of anti-social behaviour, violence or exploitation.
Football provides the initial point of engagement, but the programme goes further than sport. Young people can access trusted youth workers, mentoring, educational workshops, volunteering and progression opportunities, alongside opportunities for positive engagement with local policing teams.
The programme is also designed to remain responsive. Where attendance, accessibility, seasonal conditions or local intelligence changes, the Trust can adapt locations and delivery to ensure provision remains safe and relevant.
A partnership approach to prevention
The investment reflects a wider approach across London that recognises the role football club community organisations can play in prevention and early intervention.
In July 2026, the Mayor of London announced an expansion of the partnership between London's Violence Reduction Unit, the Premier League, Premier League Foundation, London United and London football club charities.
The new partnership is backed by almost £700,000 of combined investment and uses Premier League Kicks to provide sport, mentoring, targeted outreach, employability support and safe spaces for young Londoners. Leyton Orient is one of the 11 London club charities involved.
This builds on the strategic partnership established between London's VRU and the capital's football club community organisations in 2025, recognising their ability to reach young people and provide trusted, community-based prevention and early intervention.
For Leyton Orient Trust, aligning the Premier League Kicks Police Partnerships Fund with the Waltham Forest Stronger Together investment means additional resource can be directed into communities where it is needed most, while maintaining close links with Community Safety and local policing partners.
Looking ahead
Delivery will continue throughout 2026/27, with the programme adapting to local intelligence, seasonal requirements and emerging community needs.
The focus remains consistent: providing young people with safe places to go, trusted adults to speak to and positive opportunities to develop, while strengthening relationships between young people, their communities and local services.
Read more about the Mayor of London, VRU, Premier League and London United partnership
