Dark Nights Success!
Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme has engaged more young people than ever before through its Dark Nights initiative — a series of sessions designed to keep young people safe, active, and connected during the darker evenings.
Over the past four years, the Community Programme has developed the sessions across the north of the city, aiming to reduce anti-social behaviour and promote positive activities during a period often associated with increased risks around fireworks and fire misuse.
What began as a single stand-alone session has grown significantly. This year, the Programme delivered five separate Dark Nights sessions throughout October and November 2025. Activities included a special matchday opportunity for a group of Premier League Kicks participants, as well as assemblies and workshops delivered to hundreds of young people across Sheffield. These sessions focused on raising awareness of the dangers associated with the season and shared practical advice on how to stay safe.
The Programme also hosted a Dark Nights Kicks fixture, which brought together eight other Football Club Charity Organisations and engaged around 100 young people. Using the power of football, the event helped to break down barriers, build friendships, and raise awareness around key safety topics.
Working in partnership with community groups and South Yorkshire Police, the initiative has reached well over 250 young people this year alone, providing free food, drinks, and a range of engaging activities at venues such as Courtside Hillsborough, Concord Sports Centre, and Forge Valley School.
The Community Programme is particularly proud to share that on evenings when sessions took place, no youth-related major incidents were reported by South Yorkshire Police — a tremendous achievement for all involved.
Paul Hebda, Youth & Integration Manager at SWFCCP, said:
“It’s been brilliant to see how the Dark Nights sessions have grown over the years. The impact has been clear — more young people getting involved in something positive, staying safe, and building stronger connections within their communities. It really shows what can be achieved when we work together.”
A massive thank you goes to the Local Area Committee Teams for their continued support, which has allowed the initiative to expand further, and to South Yorkshire Police for helping to ensure that both our activities and local communities remain safe — not only during the dark nights period, but all year round.
To find out more about Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme’s Youth and Integration work, please contact: paul.hebda@swfc.co.uk