OA Hindley crowned champions of Premier League Inspires Challenge

Outwood Academy Hindley have been crowned champions of this year’s Premier League Inspires Challenge.

Premier League Inspires is an education programme, introduced in 2019, developed by the Premier League and professional football clubs.

The annual event was hosted at the DW Stadium, home of Wigan Athletic FC, with six cohorts of students representing their schools at the event and presenting environmental-themed, social action proposals to a panel of judges.

With representatives from Outwood Academy Hindley, Atherton High School, Deanery High School, Hawkley Hall High School, Up Holland High School and Leigh Engagement Centre, the students presented a broad variety of ideas to the judges. With ideas ranging from turning football shirts into reusable bags, recycling football boots into plant pots and a campaign to plant a tree for each season ticket holder at the DW Stadium, all students should be applauded for their innovative ideas.

The judging panel was comprised of Wigan Athletic Chief Executive Mal Brannigan, U21 players Chris Sze and Kieran Lloyd, Trustee Cathy Robinson and Kerrell Boardman from Wigan Council.

After much deliberation, the judges opted to crown Outwood Academy Hindley the champions for their idea to create a meditative zen garden in remembrance of Wigan Athletic’s late Head of Community, Tom Flower.

Outwood Academy Hindley will now go on to represent Latics in future Premier League Inspires celebration events.

Hosting the event was Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Steve Bower who said:

“Premier League Inspires has a massive impact. Seeing the pupils this morning, it was clear that some of them weren’t confident but for them to be able to get up and present to a room full of people shows how confident they’re becoming.”

His thoughts were echoed by Academy Player Chris Sze, who added:

“I thought they were all good. They all had a chance of winning.

“I think it’s good that all the fans and everyone who’s known Tom can go and pay their respects, and be around the garden and feel like he’s still here.”

Jude Norman, Principal at Outwood Academy Hindley, commented:

“Our year 8 students were excellent ambassadors for our academy, presenting their idea for a memorial garden to the judges with real confidence. 

“We are all incredibly proud of them and look forward to them working with Wigan Athletic in the coming months to make their idea a reality.”