The Youth Sport Trust has been handed the funding from the Co-op Foundation's #iwillfund to support boys in Leeds.
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It will be used to establish the "Team Us" project from April this year, designed to improve the wellbeing of disadvantaged boys aged between 11 and 13 whose wellbeing has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and helping them through the challenges of transitioning to secondary school.
Boys in primary school will be paired up with secondary peer leaders, who will be trained in how to use sport and physical activity to build meaningful relationships and create a "team ethos".
It is hoped these relationships will enable older pupils to share their experiences of school transition and how they dealt with the challenges of Covid-19 in order to reduce anxieties of those currently going through the experience.
The project aims to engage 980 young people over two years using psycho-social tools and stress-busting strategies as well as creating peer mentoring and physical activity opportunities.
Rebecca D’Arcy, development manager for West Yorkshire and Humber at the Youth Sport Trust, said: “It has been an extraordinarily difficult year for young people who have seen such huge disruption to their lives and education. We are excited to begin work on this programme with seven schools across Leeds and are grateful to be given the opportunity by the Co-op Foundation.
"Team Us is going to make such a difference to young people in helping them to transition between schools smoothly, form strong bonds and feel part of the community.”
Jamie Ward-Smith, chair of the Co-op Foundation, said: “Life transitions, like moving schools, can be a lonely and unsettling time for young people. Grants announced today will allow young people to improve their wellbeing as they move schools, while offering an opportunity to take action to help others.”
