Barclays Community Icon of the Month award celebrates remarkable individuals

Barclays and the Premier League shine a light on people making a meaningful impact in their community Barclays and the Premier League are shining a light on individuals who have made a meaningful impact in their community. The Barclays Community Icon of the Month award is a new initiative that celebrates those who go above and beyond through Premier League-funded programmes to help and inspire others. At the start of the season, clubs were invited to nominate standout volunteers or participants for their positive contributions, and each month, one winner of the Barclays Community Icon of the Month award will be spotlighted through a short video that brings their inspiring story to life. April: Tariq Ali MBE, Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolves are spotlighting Tariq Ali MBE, a partner who was involved in the PLPFA Community Fund project, Building Brighter Futures, which ran bespoke football and cricket activities during Ramadan. Tariq has spent 20 years volunteering in general, and through his voluntary work across local mosques that the Foundation were able to encourage positive behaviour and bring in new participants during night Ramadan sessions. He has been involved for 18 months, and the programme was even bigger in 2025. His selfless desire to help others has helped break down barriers and helped bring people together in that space. "I feel proud, said Tariq. "Having an impact on anybody, no matter how small it is, it's absolutely amazing." March: Holly, Newcastle UnitedHolly's start to life has been more challenging than for most, yet her tremendous resilience and burning desire to play football has seen her thrive at Newcastle United Foundation's Neurodiverse Premier League Kicks programme. "Life for Holly has always been really, really hard," said Holly's mum, Sherrie. "Even coming into the world, her brain wasn't working, she couldn't breathe on her own and was hooked up to every machine possible. She's had over 25 different diagnoses. We were told that she was never going to walk, never going to talk." Yet Holly's dream was always to play football, and having been recommended her local Neurodiverse Premier League Kicks programme run by Newcastle United Foundation, which offers a fun, safe and supportive environment for young people with diverse needs, she hasn't looked back. "I feel like football was what was driving Holly to start walking," adds Sherrie. "She was dying to kick a ball." Since attending PL Kicks, Holly has gained a sense of enjoyment, inclusion, and consistency that has been missing from many other experiences - and she is also playing football. "People pass you the ball and create chances for you to score goals," Holly says of her new interest that is also supporting her physical and emotional wellbeing. And of winning the March 2026 Barclays Community Icon of the Month, she adds, "I feel happy and proud." February: Farah, BurnleyFarah grew up living directly opposite Turf Moor. But, as a British-Pakistani, Muslim girl growing up in the 1980s, her hopes of ever seeing the inside of Burnley's famous stadium were, in her own words, only ever a dream. "My bedroom overlooked the stadium," Farah recalls. "I used to think to myself, 'I would love one day to go to Turf Moor.' I didn't think it would be possible. There was a lot of violence in our area. It was a dangerous time." But now, after a lifetime of dreaming, Farah has not only been able to watch her first match at Turf Moor, but is helping to shape Burnley FC in the Community’s Progression Not Perfection programme - a female-only wellbeing group funded by the PLPFA Community Fund. Farah is the February 2026 Barclays Community Icon of the Month, nominated for her inspiring journey of empowerment, inclusion, and community leadership, embodying the values of courage, cultural inclusion, and positive change, helping to open new doors for women in underrepresented communities. January: Will, Brighton & Hove AlbionWill Brickell joined the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation back in 2023, having completed an 18-month apprenticeship there 10 years earlier. His role sees him work with children all over Sussex, mainly those with disabilities. As a deaf person, Will knows exactly what they need, having lacked the kind of support he offers now when he was growing up. “Growing up, I didn’t have much support due to my deafness and being deaf, every day was a massive challenge for me,” Will said. Will has been recognised for his dedication and enthusiasm, using his own disability to help empower others and be a positive role model for all. “I want to help people, but through football," he added. “If I can educate people and teach people how to be kind, or show good team work, or show respect, then they can use that and go out into the outside world and spread that kindness and awareness to other people.” December: Margaret, AFC BournemouthMargaret waited her entire life for football. Now, thanks to AFC Bournemouth, she has found her passion, and a family to enjoy it alongside. "It was right in my bones, this desire, I just loved football," Margaret explains. "I thought when I was really young that I'd play football for England. Then, I went to secondary school and the headmaster wouldn't allow it. He said it wouldn't be fair on other schools playing with a girl in the team." Years later, Margaret saw an advert for walking football and became a participant for AFC Bournemouth in the activity funded by the Premier League and Professional Footballers' Association Players' Fund. "I went along and it was like heaven," she says. "I waited all my life for football, and now it's here. Coming here, it's given me the family I haven't got." Margaret has been spotlighted due to her positive and friendly demeanour that she brings to every session, and her inclusive nature to always look to bring in others. She has completely embraced the community opportunities offered at the club, and in her own words, has found a family and changed her life. November: Ahmed, BrentfordAhmed Mettioui began working for Football in the Community 25 years ago, and has been involved in Premier League-funded programmes delivery since the inception of the Premier League Charitable Fund, including helping to deliver Premier League Kicks and Primary Stars. Despite his professional international football background for Morocco, his humility, commitment, and passion for the development of young people shines through. "Playing in Morocco when we were kids, there was nothing for us. We had no shoes, we just played in the streets," Ahmed recalled. "When I came to the UK in 1990, I played for Crewe Alexandra and Morocco. But I would never have thought I’d be doing what I’m doing now. "It motivates me every day to wake up and come to schools, to give something back to the kids, especially those that are struggling with confidence. That’s everything, for me. That is my reward.” Watch below how Ahmed his inspired both current participants and their parents, and even colleagues, who were once participants that Ahmed has made a lasting impact on. October: Shai, Fulham Shai Ivey's journey began with the Premier League Kicks programme and he has come full circle through the Made in Fulham project, supported by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association Community Fund. Shai has been recognised for his dedication, teamwork and leadership, and is described by staff as a truly inspiring figure – both to those who support him and those he now supports. "It means a lot to me, because it feels like I can be a role model for others in the future and the younger generation," Shai said. "I want them to make the most of the opportunities that I did and take the opportunities that I might have missed. The expectation was just to play football every week, but now I look at how I can influence the younger generation and how I can impact the community in positive ways. "To begin with, I was quite happy to go through the motions, whereas now I want to make the most of everything, especially while I am young, and I would advise others to do the same." Shai is now a qualified coach, set to work on Fulham FC Foundation programmes – including Kicks, the sessions where his journey began five years ago.