Accrington Stanley's Josh Woods urges young people to 'turn things around'
Accrington Stanley player Josh Woods says young people “deserve real credit” for choosing to change their lives.
Accrington Stanley Community Trust has welcomed first team player Josh Woods as its newest Champions Ambassador, in partnership with the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN).
The Champions programme supports young people aged 10–25 who are at risk of offending or have already been involved in offending behaviours. Through mentoring, safe spaces, and positive role models, the initiative helps them make healthier, safer choices.
In his new role, Josh will meet young people at the stadium and training ground, take part in half-term activities like snooker, darts and table tennis, and offer informal support during 1:1 sessions at the Trust’s hub.
Josh said: “I think sometimes young people don’t always get the opportunity to show who they really are. Where I grew up, I know how lucky I was to have people and places that helped me stay on track. Having the chance to go to safe spaces, play football, and be around good mates kept me out of trouble.
“A lot of the young people who come to Champions haven’t chosen the circumstances they’re in, and I think they deserve real credit for trying to turn their luck around. It takes courage to say, ‘I want to change,’ and with the support of the Champions staff at the Trust, many of them are now doing just that – making real steps to turn things around.
“For me personally, football in the community was such an important part of my childhood, giving me somewhere to belong and spend time with friends. To now be in a position where I can give back in some way and hopefully make even a small difference for young people in similar situations, is something I’m really proud to be part of.”
Chief Inspector Gemma Barr, Operational Lead at the LVRN, praised the impact of the programme:
“The Champions programme has already shown how powerful it can be in helping young people make positive choices, and having people like Josh on board only adds to that success by giving young people someone they can look up to and relate to."
Accrington Stanley Community Trust says it’s committed to helping young people build brighter futures, and Josh’s involvement is another step in making that vision a reality.