Kinetic Foundation

What Kinetic Foundation does

Kinetic Foundation is a London-based registered charity (Charity No: 1151315) founded in 2011 by former Crystal Palace coach Harry Hudson and James Fotheringham in the wake of the 2011 London riots. It delivers free football and education programmes to young people aged 11-19 from deprived and historically marginalised backgrounds, operating across 9+ Harris Federation sixth-form sites in South and North London and through community venues. Its core products are Kinetic Academy (post-16 football and education programme for ages 16-19), Kinetic Futures (employability, mentorship, and personal-skills curriculum), and Kinetic Community (free weekly sessions and HAF holiday programmes for ages 11-16), supplemented by the Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports School (since 2017) and a St Mary's University Performance Football programme launched in March 2026. A separate Kinetic Girls programme has run since 2022.

The organisation does not sell a product; instead it is funded through a mix of corporate partnerships (Inflexion Foundation at £100,000 per year, adidas, Howden, Apax Foundation from April 2026), charitable trusts (FIFA Foundation, Jack Petchey Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund), government HAF grants via local councils, individual donations, and fundraising events (e.g., £44,250 raised at the Inflexion tournament in June 2026). All programmes are free to participants. Operations are supported by third-party software only: Abler/Sportabler for session booking and applications, Class4kids for HAF bookings, and Squarespace for the public website; no proprietary technology stack exists.

Kinetic claims 12,250+ young people supported since 2011, 84+ signings to professional football clubs (including Joe Aribo at Southampton and Omar Richards at Nottingham Forest), and a 97% graduate progression rate into employment, training, or university, with participants 76% less likely to be NEET than London averages (ONS Dec 2024). The leadership bench includes a board of trustees drawn from Inflexion, Barclays Legal, Wagestream, Surrey FA, and Ogilvy One, and a 34-person operational team distributed across coaching, programmes, safeguarding, marketing, partnerships, and fundraising functions.

Name

Kinetic Foundation

Legal name

Kinetic Foundation

Website

https://kinetic-foundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kinetic Foundation is a London-based charity that delivers free football, education, and employability programmes to 11-19 year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds through Harris Federation partner schools, funded by corporate partners and trusts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Education and Social Mobility Charity

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Youth football education
• Community sports programmes
• Post-16 football academy
• Employability mentorship services
• Social mobility charity

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnerships: Funding from corporate partners including adidas, Howden, Inflexion, and others who provide financial support, in-kind donations, and employee volunteering/m mentoring programmes. The Inflexion Foundation commits £100,000 per year.
2. Trusts and Foundations: Funding from charitable foundations including Apax Foundation, FIFA Foundation, Jack Petchey Foundation, and The National Lottery Community Fund.
3. Individual Fundraising and Donations: Individual donations and fundraising activities from supporters. All programmes are provided free to participants.
4. Government HAF Programme: Funding from government Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme delivered through local councils. Programme provides free places for children on free school meals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kinetic Foundation is a London-based registered charity that delivers free football and education programmes for young people aged 11-19 from disadvantaged communities. Its core offerings include the post-16 Kinetic Academy (combining elite football coaching with A-Level/vocational qualifications at partner schools), Kinetic Futures (employability workshops and mentorship), and Kinetic Community (free football sessions and HAF holiday programmes). All programmes are provided at no cost to participants, funded through corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and individual donations.

Product overview

Kinetic Foundation is a London-based football and education charity offering an integrated programme of products designed to engage young people from deprived backgrounds through football. The core offerings include: Kinetic Academy (post-16 football academy for ages 16-19), Kinetic Futures (employability and mentorship programme), and Kinetic Community (free sessions for ages 11-16). These are complemented by partnership programmes including the Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports School and St Mary's University Programme. The organisation operates through a network of partner schools, primarily the Harris Federation, and provides a structured two-year educational journey that combines football development with academic qualifications and career preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kinetic Academy Flagship post-16 football academy programme for 16-19 year olds providing high-level football coaching combined with academic or vocational qualifications at partner schools across London. Delivered at Harris Federation sixth form sites.
• Kinetic Futures Employability and personal skills programme offering mentorship, career advice, industry exposure, and networking opportunities to help graduates transition into employment, training, university, or professional football. Includes workshops on CV writing, interview preparation, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.
• Kinetic Community Free football development sessions for young people aged 11-16 and HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) holiday programmes. Provides access to football regardless of ability or financial means.
• Kinetic Boys Boys football academy programme delivered at Harris Academy schools across London, engaging male athletes and using their passion for football as a vehicle for social change.
• Kinetic Girls Girls-only football academy programme launched in 2022, delivered at Harris Academy schools across South London, providing female footballers with access to quality education while pursuing football development.
• Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports School Partnership programme with the Real Madrid Foundation since 2017 using football training and educational workshops to empower young people aged 11-18 in Croydon. Built on seven values: respect, team spirit, self-esteem, health, autonomy, motivation, and equality.
• St Mary's University Performance Football Programme Performance football programme in partnership with St Mary's University offering students the opportunity to develop in a competitive environment while achieving academic goals. Includes access to 3G pitches and expert coaching, with five teams competing in BUCS competitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of graduates move into employment, training or university
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Common GoalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Joined Common Goal in December 2025, a collective of football stakeholders committing 1% of revenue to football for good causes globally.
• FIFA FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Part of FIFA Foundation Community Programme 2025-2026. FIFA Foundation supports football-based social programmes globally. Kinetic selected as delivery partner for community initiatives.
• adidasflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Major partnership announced November 2024 with the three-stripe brand to support Kinetic's mission to empower the next generation of talent on and off the pitch. Partnership includes workshops and events for students, with Son Heung-Min surprise session for academy players. Launch photography by adidas Originals Creator Network alumni Andre Martin across iconic London locations.
• Real Madrid FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Delivery of Social Sports School programme in Croydon since 2017. Uses Real Madrid Foundation methodology combining football with education. Sessions for 11-18 year olds from diverse, often underserved communities. Values: respect, team spirit, self-esteem, health, autonomy, motivation, equality. Supported by Abbott and UPS. Annual 'Training of Trainers' exchanges to Madrid.
• Harris FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Long-standing educational partnership delivering the academic component of the programme across 9+ sixth form sites in London. Harris Federation provides vocational and A-Level courses, full-time School Liaison Officers at each site, pastoral support, and access to 3G pitches and facilities.
• HowdencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing mentorship, work experience opportunities, and apprenticeship pathways. Howden M&A supports the Kinetic Entrepreneurship Programme with workshops on marketing, social media, finance, and business. Raphael Antwi secured apprenticeship at Howden as Marine & Cargo Broker.
• St Mary's UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced March 2026 for St Mary's Performance Football programme. Students can pursue degree courses (Sports Science, Physiotherapy, Sports Coaching) while developing in competitive football environment. Training twice weekly, 5 teams in BUCS competitions.
• UPSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUPS Foundation partners with Real Madrid Foundation and supports the Social Sports School programme in London. UPS employees volunteer at football tournaments and events.
• Her Game ToominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced July 2023 with voluntary campaign creating positive change in football. Alignment on providing equal opportunities regardless of gender. Supports Kinetic's aim to be largest provider of Girls Football in London.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tottenham Hotspur Foundation: Premier League club foundation using football to deliver education, employability, and health programmes for young people in North and East London. Comparable football-based youth development focus and London geography, but operating as part of a much larger Premier League ecosystem.
• Arsenal in the Community: Premier League club community arm delivering football, education, and employability programmes across London. Comparable to Kinetic in cohort and football-led youth development, but with the backing of a top-tier club and broader portfolio.
• Manchester City Foundation: Premier League club foundation delivering education, sport, and health programmes for young people across Greater Manchester. Comparable football-led youth development model and outcomes framework, but serves a different region and benefits from a top-tier club's brand.

Emerging players

• SportInspired: UK charity using sport to improve life outcomes for disadvantaged young people, combining sport with mentoring and life skills. Comparable multi-sport youth development mission and target demographic to Kinetic.
• Access Sport: UK charity providing inclusive sport opportunities for disadvantaged young people, focused on removing barriers to participation. Comparable youth cohort and sport-for-development ethos, though broader across multiple sports rather than football-specific.

Others

• The Prince's Trust: Major UK youth charity supporting disadvantaged 11-30 year-olds into education, training, and employment. Comparable beneficiary cohort, employability outcomes focus, and UK corporate-partnership fundraising model, though not sport-specific.
• OnSide Youth Zones: UK charity building a national network of state-of-the-art youth centres providing activities including sport for 8-19 year-olds, including disadvantaged cohorts. Comparable youth engagement and donor base but operates indoor youth zones rather than football academy programmes.

Direct peers

• Sported: UK charity supporting a network of community sport groups to deliver sport-for-development outcomes for disadvantaged young people. Comparable as a UK sport-for-social-change funder/incubator with a similar beneficiary cohort, though operating through a network rather than direct delivery.
• Football Beyond Borders: UK-registered charity using football as a vehicle for young people's social and educational development. Directly comparable to Kinetic's combined football-plus-education model, serving disadvantaged secondary-school-age youth in London and other UK cities.
• Greenhouse Sports: London-based charity using sport to re-engage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education, employing full-time coaches in schools. Closely comparable mission, target cohort, and London-centric operating model to Kinetic Foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kineticfound
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-kinetic-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/kineticfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kinetic Foundation