At Greenhouse Sports, we believe every child deserves a fair chance in life. But for millions of children in the UK growing up in poverty, those chances are not equal. We won’t stop until they are.
We are a leading youth development charity and one of the largest organisations in the UK directly supporting children facing disadvantage to unlock their potential. Since 2002, we’ve placed full-time coach-mentors in schools located in high-deprivation areas, delivering free, high-quality sports and mentoring programmes to over 8,500 young people each year.
Our coach-mentors are more than sports coaches—they are consistent, trusted role models who build life skills, resilience, confidence and aspiration. Their presence improves attendance, engagement, and wellbeing, transforming outcomes in school and beyond. For the children we work with, this support is not just valuable—it is often life-changing.
What we do
- School-based programmes: Full-time coach-mentors deliver daily sport and mentoring sessions in partner schools, reaching children who face significant barriers to success.
- Community programmes: Through our flagship site, the Greenhouse Centre in Westminster, we provide a vibrant, welcoming space for children and families in one of the UK’s most deprived areas.
- Life-changing relationships: It’s not about sport—it’s about the power of connection. Our programmes are rooted in trusted relationships that foster belief, belonging, and possibility. We work hard to develop and support our incredible coach-mentors to be the gamechangers children need.
Sport is the hook.
Coach is the key.
Together they make mentoring game changing. And that’s the Greenhouse difference.
Coach Spotlight: Taner’s Story
“I didn’t really have a mentor when I was younger… I was in serious trouble with the police when I found basketball. We didn’t even have a hoop at school—just an air vent on the wall—but the game changed my life. It gave me something to believe in.
Joining Greenhouse as Coach Taner, I saw just how powerful sport can be as a tool to engage young people and guide them in the right direction. It’s not just about what happens on the court—it’s the classroom, the school, the community. That’s the impact.”
Future plans
Over the next three years, we are focused on scaling our impact and deepening our support for the children and communities that need us most. This means:
- Expanding access to our coach-mentor model in areas of high need both in London and other parts of the country,
- Reopening the Greenhouse Centre in Westminster after a major refurbishment—restoring a community lifeline where hundreds of children can play, learn, and grow
- Building sustainable funding support to ensure our programmes are resilient, high-quality, and long-lasting