North East United awards celebrate impact of innovative attendance programme
The North East United programme, launched in January by The Edwin Group, has concluded its 12-week pilot with a celebratory awards event recognising the achievements of over 50 participating students. Designed to re-engage Year 10 students with education through sport, the initiative has had a clear and positive effect on attendance, motivation and wellbeing across six schools in the North East.
A celebration of resilience and growth
Held at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland, the North East United awards event brought together students, education leaders and football foundation partners to celebrate the students’ achievements and the programme’s impact. A number of special awards were presented, including recognition for Resilience, Most Improved, Commitment, Engagement and Most Engaged, which highlighted the transformative journeys of the young people involved.
Special guest Lyndon Longhorne, Team GB Paralympian, joined Dame Maura Regan, education ambassador for The Edwin Group, to present the awards. The Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell MP, also shared a video message praising the programme’s creativity and impact.
I'm thrilled to see the North East United programme bringing such energy and enthusiasm into our schools, showing how creative approaches can boost attendance and engagement. It’s inspiring to see how young people have embraced this opportunity. The programme highlights how creative partnerships can boost both attendance and aspirations.
Positive trends in attendance and engagement
The programme successfully reversed national trends. While overall attendance in England declined between Autumn 2024 and Spring 2025, students on the North East United programme increased their average attendance. In some cases, individual improvements exceeded 40%.
Key findings from the pilot include:
- 91% of students reported a more positive attitude towards attending school.
- 71% said they felt more confident in the school environment.
- 64% set personal attendance goals of 90% or above.
Football as a catalyst for change
Developed in partnership with Middlesbrough FC Foundation, Sunderland AFC’s Foundation of Light and Newcastle United Foundation, North East United blended football, high performance coaching and personal development. Students participated in workshops focused on emotional wellbeing, aspirations, teamwork and life skills. Sessions ran twice weekly during school hours, helping students build sustainable habits both inside and outside the classroom.
It was great to attend the North East United awards and celebrate the achievements of these young people, who have demonstrated their ability to overcome significant challenges. The report highlights the power sport can have on education, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with partners to ensure young people can realise their potential through sport.
The programme collaborated with Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust and Spark Education Trust, targeting students with attendance rates between 85% and 92%. The participating secondary schools were Conyers School in Yarm, Huntcliff School in Saltburn, St John’s School and Sixth Form College in Bishop Auckland, English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College in Hartlepool, St Wilfrid’s RC College in South Shields and St Bede’s Catholic School in Peterlee.
Seeing the positive impact the North East United programme has had on our students really does highlight the importance of local partnerships in education. The teams from the football foundations have made a significant difference, giving students a sense that they are valued and that they belong. As a result, students from across our schools have experienced increases in aspiration, motivation and resilience.
Collaborative partnerships driving results
We are incredibly proud to celebrate the success of the North East United pilot and our local partnerships to improve attendance and the engagement of our young people in education. “At Edwin, we recognise the importance of ensuring that every young person has access to the best possible educational experience, and it is fantastic to see the positive impact the programme has had on encouraging students to re-engage with their education.
Having achieved positive results, The Edwin Group's full pilot evaluation report, detailing strategies, outcomes and recommendations, will be available soon for schools interested in adopting a similar model. Sign up below to receive an alert when the full report and accompanying materials are published.
Register for updates on the North East United: Final Impact Report
By uniting sport, education, business and community partnership, North East United is proving that local, creative approaches can make a meaningful difference in students’ lives – offering a blueprint for improving attendance and engagement across the UK.
Let’s see what we can do together
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