From Research to Real-World Impact

Over the past two years, Eunice has worked closely with Southampton’s local council and community partners to establish regular youth engagement sessions, building trust and relationships with young people. Using a participatory research approach, she has worked alongside young people to explore the challenges they face and co-design support that is relevant, accessible and meaningful to them.

These conversations helped shape the Future Champions Initiative, an innovative programme combining football training with emotional wellbeing discussions, mentorship and opportunities for personal development. By bringing together physical activity and wellbeing education in a supportive environment, Future Champions aims to help young people develop practical skills, build resilience and strengthen their sense of belonging. Crucially, the programme is shaped by the young people themselves, reflecting the priorities they identified through Eunice’s research.

Turning research into action with the Social Impact Lab

While Eunice’s research provided valuable insights into young people’s experiences, she was determined to translate those findings into something tangible. Through the University’s Social Impact Lab, she discovered funding opportunities designed to help students transform innovative ideas into projects that create positive social change.

Her vision was recognised with first place in the 2026 Pulse for Change competition, securing £1,500 to support Future Champions. She also received a further £500 through the Student Enterprise Fund. Together, these awards have enabled Eunice to begin putting the ideas developed alongside young people into practice. As Eunice explains:

“This funding has enabled us to transform young people’s ideas into real-world support.”

Pulse for Change, delivered by the Social Impact Lab in partnership with the Faculty of Medicine, supports students developing innovative approaches to improving health and wellbeing. Eunice’s success demonstrates how community-based research and social innovation can come together to address the wider factors that influence health.

Building confidence, connections and wellbeing

The Future Champions Initiative is already underway, with football providing an engaging and accessible starting point for conversations about emotional wellbeing and personal development. Alongside developing their football skills, participants have opportunities to build confidence, connect with others and explore strategies for strengthening their emotional resilience.

Early feedback has been encouraging, highlighting the value of creating opportunities that combine practical activities with meaningful personal support. One young participant shared:

“The training is very helpful for people who are struggling to gain skills, and we appreciate the efforts of our coach.”

For Eunice, this feedback reinforces the importance of involving communities in designing the support intended for them. Rather than developing solutions on behalf of young people, Future Champions places their voices and experiences at the heart of the programme.

A champion for community-led change

Eunice’s journey illustrates how university research can extend beyond academic findings to create practical benefits for local communities. By combining research expertise, community partnerships and an entrepreneurial approach to social impact, she is demonstrating the potential of student-led initiatives to tackle inequalities and improve wellbeing. Reflecting on the support she has received, Eunice says:

“Receiving these awards has demonstrated the value of translating research into action.”

As Future Champions develops, Eunice hopes to continue working alongside young people to create opportunities that support their emotional wellbeing and help them reach their full potential. Her story is a powerful example of how listening to communities, developing ideas collaboratively and accessing the right support can turn research insights into meaningful action.