Since 2012, the Hong Kong Governmental Advisory Committee on Mental Health has called for holistic, community-based interventions that combine physical activities with social-emotional building mechanisms to improve children’s and adolescents’ mental resilience – and that’s where our Play to Thrive program comes in.

Objective

The “Play to Thrive” Programme effectively encapsulates our rich international experience focused on enhancing children’s cognitive abilities and social-emotional skills through football. By incorporating activities that promote empathy, relationship-building, and resilience, the programme not only fosters essential life skills but also supports the overall physical and mental well-being of children.
 
Service target: Children aged 6-12
Service area: Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai
 
Play to Thrive is open to all primary schools in Hong Kong now. Interested schools are welcome to contact us directly for more details.
Football coaches have improved capacity in incorporating social-emotional skill sets into football coaching

All children participated in the programme are able to demonstrate improved social-emotional competencies

Create a safe environment for children to grow up in by enhancing caregivers and other stakeholders’ knowledge, attitude and practice.

Our Programme

Children’s Football Training Sessions

15 sessions of 1.5-hour football experience classes! Classes include football training integrated with social-emotional learning, a parent-child football day, and an inter-district football competition (Fun Day). The football sessions are completely free! Additionally, each child will receive a free set of football gear, including a jersey, shorts, and shoes.

*A $200 registration deposit and a $300 shortlist deposit will be collected. If the attendance rate reaches 80%, the full $500 deposit will be refunded in one go.

Children with Caregivers’ Football Training Sessions

The weekend football training session will invite caregivers to join together with their children. Engaging caregivers will help enhance their awareness of the importance of sports and social-emotional development in childhood, as well as improve child-parent relationships.

Positive Parenting Group – Parent Football Team

Parents can voluntarily join the parent football team while learning to support their children’s growth with positive thinking. No soccer experience is required!
(8-10 sessions per round, fees apply)

Cross-district Football Competition “Fun Day”

Participating children, in the final session of the social-emotional football training group under the “Play Together Fun” program, will join a football match to apply what they have learned. At the same time, this event also helps the public better understand the relationship between children’s physical fitness and mental health.

Children Club Football Team

After participating in regular football training sessions, children can join our Children Club Football Team based on coaches’ recommendations. This team offers ongoing training that incorporates social-emotional learning.
(Voluntary participation, fees may apply)

Play to Thrive (Primary School)

Starting mid-2025, Play to Thrive have expand to primary schools, partnering with them to enhance children’s social and emotional skills. Over 30 schools are already participating, and interested schools are invited to contact us directly for more details.