Power of Sport

Power of Sport
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Power of Sport is a weekly podcast exploring how sport is changing lives and strengthening communities. Hosted by Xavier Wiggins, the podcast goes beyond headlines to hear from the people doing the work on the ground - tackling issues like mental health, inclusion, inequality and opportunity through sport. From grassroots programmes to national movements, Power of Sport gives space to honest stories, real challenges and the people using sport as a force for good. 🎙 New episodes drop each Thursday.

  1. May 7

    From Sunday League to Global Impact | Henry May & The Huracan Foundation | Power of Sport Podcast

    What started as a Sunday league football team in London - named after an Argentine club - became a foundation changing lives in 18 countries.Henry May is the founder of The Huracan Foundation, which backs teachers and community leaders in underserved communities around the world, using football as a catalyst for education and social change. With over 4,000 children reached and 47% of them girls, the results speak for themselves.In this episode, Henry shares the unlikely origin story behind the Foundation, the model that makes it work, and why he believes football is one of the most powerful tools we have for transforming young lives.📺 Subscribe to the channel today.

    27 min

  2. May 1

    Helgi Thor & Bergthor Bodvarsson | Football for Mental Health in Iceland | FC Sæko | Power of Sport Ep.10

    In this episode of the Power of Sport, I sit down with Helgi Thor and Bergthor Bodvarsson - two of the people behind FC Sæko, an independent football club in Reykjavík for men and women living with mental health problems. FC Sæko was started in 2011 with a simple idea: get people out of isolation, onto a pitch, and give them a reason to show up. Titles and diagnoses stay outside the field. In 2018, UEFA recognised their work with the Grassroots Gold Award - and that same year, Bergthor was voted Citizen of Reykjavík. We talk about what it actually looks like week to week, what showing up on a pitch does for someone who has been isolated, and what over a decade of this work has taught them about mental health, community and the real power of sport.

    23 min

  3. Apr 16

    Mike de Giorgio | Using Sport to Transform Young Lives | Greenhouse Sports | Power of Sport Ep.9

    In this episode of the Power of Sport, I sit down with Mike de Giorgio - the founder of Greenhouse Sports, a charity that has used sport and mentoring to transform the lives of over 60,000 young people across London.Mike sold his financial consultancy business in 2001 and chose to put his energy, skills and experience into something with a very different kind of purpose. What began as a small holiday coaching pilot on a housing estate in West London has grown into 65 full-time programmes running across 16 London boroughs - with full-time coach-mentors embedded inside schools, 48 weeks a year.We talk about what drove that decision, what it really means to use sport as a tool for change, the model that makes Greenhouse Sports unlike anything else out there, and what over two decades of doing this work has taught him.Greenhouse Sports is exactly the kind of organisation this podcast exists to shine a light on - independent, standalone, and doing extraordinary work without the backing of a professional club or federation behind them. The sport for good space is so much bigger and richer than football foundations and club partner charities, and Mike's story is a powerful reminder of that. Mike was awarded an OBE for his services to sport and community and was named one of the Evening Standard's most influential Londoners. This is a brilliant conversation about purpose, impact, and the real power of sport.#PowerOfSport #GreenhouseSports #SportForGood #YouthDevelopment #SocialImpact #Mentoring #London #Podcast #IndependentCharity #sportforchange

    34 min

  4. Apr 3

    From the Streets of Nottingham to over 5,000 Young Lives Changed | Tranai Todd | Power of Sport Ep.8

    Tranai Todd founded Support Through Sport at 17 - not because it seemed like a good idea, but because he'd lived it. Growing up in a disadvantaged area of Nottingham, sport gave him the protective factors to stay away from the negative influences that surround so many young people in communities like his.Now 21, he leads a regional organisation that delivers sport-based intervention, mentoring and progression programmes to thousands of young people - diverting them away from youth offending, gang culture, knife crime and anti-social behaviour, and giving them something to move towards instead.What makes Support Through Sport different is the approach. It's youth-led, it's rooted in lived experience, and it's built on a genuine belief in the power sport has to change lives and create safer communities. In this episode, Tranai talks about where it all started, how the organisation works, and what it really takes to turn sport into a tool for lasting social change.This is the Power of Sport.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week📲 Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. #PowerOfSport #SupportThroughSport #SportForChange #YouthWork #Nottingham #TranaiTodd #SportForGood #SocialImpact #YouthMentoring #Podcast

    34 min

  5. Mar 29

    Power of Sport - Episode 7 - Natalie O'Rourke, Park Lane Stables

    In this episode, we sit down with Natalie O'Rourke MBE - founder of Park Lane Stables RDA in Teddington and one of the most remarkable community figures in Britain today.Natalie's story is extraordinary. From growing up in Birmingham with a love of horses instilled by her father, to transforming a traditional riding school into a lifeline for children and adults with disabilities, mental health challenges, and social isolation - her journey is one of pure grit and heart.But it was the events of New Year's Eve 2020 that would test everything. Told their landlord intended to sell the property, Natalie and her team had two months to raise £1 million or lose the stables forever. What followed was one of the most remarkable crowdfunding campaigns Britain has ever seen - drawing support from over 32,000 donors and names like Rob Brydon and Rory Bremner, ultimately raising more than £1.3 million.We talk about the chaos and emotion behind the "Save Our Stables" campaign, what it felt like when the stables were briefly evicted despite their success, and how Natalie's belief in community - and in horses - never once wavered.Natalie has since been awarded an MBE for services to disabled people and the community, named Sunday Times Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year 2025, and received the RDA's highest honour, the Birt Spooner Cup. She's also the author of her memoir Only Heroes and Horses.This one will stay with you.

    45 min

  6. Mar 19

    Power of Sport - Episode 6 - Niall Couper, CEO Fair Game

    In Episode 6 of Power of Sport, Xavier Wiggins is joined by Niall Couper, Chief Executive of Fair Game, to explore how football can do far more for communities if the system allows it.They discuss Fair Game’s push for a fairer, more sustainable game, the role clubs can play in tackling social challenges, and why football remains one of the most powerful tools we have for positive change.This is an important conversation on football reform, community impact and the future of sport for good. Subscribe to Power of Sport for more conversations with the people using sport to change lives.#PowerOfSport #FairGame #NiallCouper #FootballReform #SportForGood #CommunityFootball #FootballForGood

    42 min

  7. Mar 5

    When Sport Saves Lives | Power of Sport Podcast February '26 Highlights

    Sport can change lives.In this Power of Sport Podcast highlights episode, we revisit some of the most powerful moments from our first four guests - stories of prison, suicide, cancer and the life-changing impact of sport.These conversations show how sport can provide purpose, belonging and a second chance - and how people are now using sport to help young people, support girls and inspire others facing adversity.If you believe in the power of sport to change lives, this episode is for you.The Power of Sport Podcast explores how sport is used to transform lives and communities.Subscribe for more stories from people using sport for good.#PowerOfSport #SportForGood #SportChangesLives #CommunitySportGuests featured:Dean Morgan of Social Injustice LimitedFrancesca Brown of Goals4GirlsJoe Lockyer of Brightstar Boxingas well as Annabel Kiki, World Cup Golden Boot Winner

    8 min

  8. Feb 26

    Power of Sport - Episode Four - Annabel Kiki

    In Episode 4 of the Power of Sport podcast, I’m joined by Annabel Kiki - elite amputee footballer, Golden Boot winner at the 2024 Women’s Amputee Football World Cup, and an S9 para swimmer. Annabel is just 17, but she’s already competing and winning at the very highest level.We talk about her journey into sport, how she lost her leg, what it takes to perform under pressure, and what it means to represent your country and your sport on the world stage. We also explore how sport has shaped her confidence, identity, and ambition - and how she’s now using her growing platform to push for inclusion and challenge perceptions. Alongside her sporting career, Annabel is also building a profile in modelling and acting, but at the heart of this conversation is her life as an athlete and the power of sport to change lives. This is a conversation about resilience, belief, elite performance, and the role sport can play in creating real social impact.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share - it really helps the podcast grow. 💬 Drop a comment with what stood out to you from Annabel’s story. 🔗 Follow Power of Sport:https://open.spotify.com/show/4ClBttuINl5k3bArL0eIGG #SportForGood #DisabilitySport #AmputeeFootball #ParaSwimming #WomenInSport #Inclusion #Inspiration

    30 min
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About

Power of Sport is a weekly podcast exploring how sport is changing lives and strengthening communities. Hosted by Xavier Wiggins, the podcast goes beyond headlines to hear from the people doing the work on the ground - tackling issues like mental health, inclusion, inequality and opportunity through sport. From grassroots programmes to national movements, Power of Sport gives space to honest stories, real challenges and the people using sport as a force for good. 🎙 New episodes drop each Thursday.

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  • Creator
    Power of Sport
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Power of Sport
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    Power of Sport