Harris Philanthropies renew support for GAME ON employment programme

The funding builds on Harris Philanthropies’ initial support in April 2024 which helped kick start the programme and expand education, training and employment opportunities for young people in South London.

Since then, thanks to the valued backing of Harris Philanthropies and other GAME ON partners, the programme has continued to grow, supporting 210 young people in its second year through tailored guidance, training and skills development, helping them take important steps into the working world.

Harris Philanthropies’ support has bolstered GAME ON’s specialised ‘Kick Off to…’ courses, helping young people gain industry specific qualifications, alongside ‘Industry Insights & Trips’, which offer real life workplace experiences and networking opportunities and the core ‘Skills for Life’ course, which covers a broad range of employability skills.

Harris Philanthropies was co-founded in 2014 by Josh Harris, Founder of 26North and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, and his wife, Marjorie, Chair of the Sixers Youth Foundation and Chair of the Washington Commanders Foundation.

Harris Philanthropies’ work focuses on catalytic giving and purpose-driven investing that maximises impact and creates long-term change in communities where the family has deep connections. Harris Philanthropies partners with organisations to support and initiate opportunities for at-risk youth, health and wellness initiatives and broad-based community growth.

“At Harris’ Philanthropies, one of our core beliefs is sports can create powerful opportunities for personal growth and advancement,” said Josh and Marjorie Harris. “We’ve seen how programs we support combine sports with education, mentorship, and career exposure that help young people build confidence, develop lifelong skills, and discover what’s possible for their future. GAME ON is doing exactly that – opening doors for young people across South London and giving them the tools and experiences they need to take meaningful steps toward education and employment. We’re proud to continue supporting this important work and grateful to the Palace for Life team for the impact they are creating in their community.”

Recent highlights from the programme include the expansion of the Down’s Syndrome Eagles Skills for Life course into from Croydon into Bromley, where young people with Down’s Syndrome have been building confidence, independence and employability skills through workshops and real world experiences.

Thomas, a participant from the Down’s Syndrome Skills for Life, recently moved into employment after taking part in the DS Eagles GAME ON programme and discovering a passion for hospitality.

Reflecting on the journey, his mum Jessica said:

“I remember turning to another mum and saying, ‘this is too good to be true’, but it wasn’t. DS GAME ON really was everything they said it would be. It’s the next step and I’m really excited about Thomas’s future as a result.”

GAME ON has also expanded into new sectors, including a Kick Off to Health and Social Care programme delivered in partnership with the NHS which gives participants the chance to visit Croydon University Hospital and take part in a three day work placement.

At the Palace for Life Youth Hub, delivered in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, hundreds of young job seekers have accessed careers advice, training and employability support. So far, more than 500 young people have engaged through these sessions.

Across GAME ON, 61% of participants have already moved into employment or education, with many others continuing to receive one-to-one support as they work towards where their employment goals.

While these outcomes are encouraging, unemployment rates among 16-24 year olds remain above pre-pandemic levels, with both inner and outer London boroughs continuing to see higher rates than the rest of England.

With demand for pathways into employment continuing to grow, Harris Philanthropies’ ongoing support allows Palace for Life to play its part in addressing these challenges by scaling up its existing programmes, expanding into growing sectors with new industry partners, enhancing support for participants with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, strengthening its one-to-one support for those finishing their courses, and widening its community engagement efforts by hosting more industry and careers fairs, which offer participants direct access to employers and training providers.

For more information on our employment work, head here.