Jess Peers – Speaker at the 22nd EFDN Conference

Jess Peers – Speaker at the 22nd EFDN Conference

Jess Peers, Head of Youth Programmes at Foundation 92, will be joining the lineup of distinguished speakers at the 22nd EFDN #MoreThanFootball Conference in Leuven, Belgium, on the 20th of November 2024.

With over a decade of experience in youth work across educational, residential, and community settings, Jess is deeply committed to empowering young people with the opportunities and services they need to thrive. Outside of her work, she enjoys traveling, playing table tennis, and spending her Saturdays with her nephews.

Foundation 92, one of the shortlisted organizations for the More than Football Award 2024, has been recognized for its transformative “Mental Health Transformation” programme. This initiative is a direct response to the growing mental health challenges faced by young people in Salford and Greater Manchester, leveraging the power of football to create meaningful impact.

The Mental Health Transformation programme focuses on:

• Providing Mental Health Support: Directly engaging young people through one-on-one sessions and full-class workshops in 13 schools across Salford and Greater Manchester.
• Supporting Transitions: Helping Year 6 children transition into secondary school by equipping them with tools to manage anxiety and life changes.
• Reducing NHS Strain: Targeting children at risk of accessing mental health services, offering early intervention to alleviate pressure on existing resources.

Jess Peers will present the programme at the conference, sharing insights into its successes, challenges, and future goals for scaling mental health support through football.

“I’ve had many fulfilling moments in my career, but one of the highlights has been our work through the Mental Health Transformation programme,” said Jess. “Engaging with young people who face some of the toughest challenges and seeing their growth and resilience is incredibly rewarding.”

Register for the conference here!