July 7, 2026 Partnership will support 10,000 young people across the UK with access to youth services, work experience and pathways into employment Scheme provides access to virtual work experience, with every young person who completes the scheme offered a guaranteed interview at JD Sports where vacancies are available LONDON: Tuesday, 7 th July 2026: – JD Sports and BBC Children in Need have today announced a new partnership that will create a £1 million fund to increase young people’s access to work experience, develop their skills and confidence, and connect them with opportunities for their future. Through the partnership, 50 youth projects across the UK will receive funding to strengthen local youth provision, supporting up to 10,000 young people and funding approximately 90 youth workers in communities where support is needed most. BBC Children in Need has identified target locations where funded youth projects are situated close to JD Sports stores, including Glasgow, Greater Manchester and London, helping connect local young people with both community support and future employment opportunities. At a time when national debate is increasingly focused on the importance of real-world connection, the partnership will help ensure young people have somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to – a core priority for BBC Children in Need. Alongside the financial investment, JD Sports will provide access to its virtual work experience programme, giving young people the chance to build practical skills and explore career pathways. Every young person who completes the scheme, which spans Retail, Merchandising, Buying, Marketing and Digital, will be offered a guaranteed interview at JD Sports where vacancies are available. The partnership comes at a time of growing concern about the barriers many young people face in accessing employment opportunities, with increasing focus on the importance of skills, experience and connections in helping young people take their first steps into work. Claire Hoyle, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “We are incredibly proud to be partnering with JD Sports to support youth projects and youth workers in communities across the UK. Giving young people somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to sits at the heart of everything we do, and this partnership will help make that a reality for thousands more young people. “Young people are facing increasing challenges and we know how vital it is that they have access to trusted adults, safe spaces and opportunities for the future. By investing in both youth work and pathways into employment, we can help young people build brighter futures.” Emma Chevreau, People, Culture, and Purpose Director at JD Group, said: “For too many young people today, the path from education into employment feels increasingly uncertain. Many are missing out on the opportunities, experiences and support networks that can help build confidence and open doors. As a proud employer of around 10,000 young people across the UK, we’re delighted to partner with BBC Children in Need to invest in both local youth services and pathways into work, helping more young people develop the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to take their next step.” In addition, JD Sports will also take part in the BBC Bitesize Careers Tour. The 2026–27 tour will reach more than 110,000 students in schools across the UK, delivering interactive sessions led by BBC presenters and featuring professionals sharing insights into their careers. JD Sports will join selected tour locations, giving students the chance to hear first-hand from industry professionals, supporting its commitment to opening up pathways into the world of work. -ENDS- For further information contact: BBC: henni.cardy@bbc.co.uk JD Sports: jdgroup@headlandconsultancy.com Notes to editors About BBC Children in Need BBC Children in Need believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive and be the best they can be. BBC Children in Need’s ambition is to create lasting, positive change across the UK for the children and young people who need it most. Together with the BBC and partners, BBC Children in Need aim to inspire the nation in support of their work. BBC Children in Need’s 1,600 local charities and projects work tirelessly in every corner of the UK to help children & young people overcome the additional challenges they currently face, including supporting children and young people living in poverty, providing emergency support to families in crisis, providing comfort to children feeling sad, lost and alone, helping children overcome social injustice and supporting children to feel safe and secure again. Further information can be found at bbc.co.uk/Pudsey About JD Sports Founded in 1981, JD Group is a leading global omni-channel retailer of sports, fashion and outdoor brands. With 4,811 stores across 36 countries, our fascias – including JD, Size?, Courir, DTLR, Shoe Palace, Hibbett, Sprinter, Sport Zone, Cosmos and Go Outdoors – deliver multi-brand and multi-category propositions that blend agility with trend-driven innovation. JD Group also operates 102 JD Gyms sites in the UK, and 75 franchised stores in a further 15 countries. We leverage our deep understanding of our customers, close relationships with established and emerging brands, and our exclusive product and own brands portfolio to deliver leading-edge athleisure, performance and streetwear products that address the very latest customer trends across footwear and apparel. We deliver this via our customer-focused omni-channel proposition that combines vibrant, theatrical stores – where sports fashion meets music and youth culture – with cutting-edge digital experiences for our customers. Our vision is to inspire the emerging generation of customers through a connection to the universal culture of sport, music and fashion. We drive this vision forward via our four strategic pillars: JD Brand First, first priority, first in the world; leveraging our Complementary Concepts to support JD Group’s regional expansion; moving Beyond Physical Retail by building the right infrastructure and creating a lifestyle ecosystem of relevant products and services; and doing the right thing for our People, Partners & Communities. JD Sports Fashion plc is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: www.jdplc.com