When Ben first engaged with Millwall Community Trust, significant anxiety and low confidence were affecting his ability to socialise, engage with others and take up new opportunities. Ben also raised concerns that he may be autistic, and MCT supported him to contact his GP and begin the process of seeking an assessment.

As part of his support, Ben was encouraged to attend MCT’s Thursday evening Wellbeing and Employability sessions. Initially, even attending was a major step. Ben agreed to try one session but made clear that he intended to remain on the sidelines.

A football session proved to be a turning point. Ben decided to join in and, importantly, the other participants knew nothing about his circumstances. They simply treated him as another member of the group.

Afterwards, Ben explained why this had meant so much. In previous settings, he had sometimes felt that disclosing his difficulties resulted in people treating him differently or as a “special case”. At Millwall, he said he had “loved it” because he felt like everyone else rather than the “special kid”.

That sense of belonging became the foundation for significant progress.

Week by week, Ben became more confident and comfortable within the group. He began joking and socialising with other participants, taking part in activities and eventually refereeing matches — something he previously said he would never have considered. He has since progressed to helping organise activities, supporting other mentees and assisting with coaching.

Most importantly, that increased confidence has transferred beyond the programme. Ben has now secured paid employment through an agency as a refuse collector for a local council, achieving one of the employment goals he had identified through his support.

He continues to attend the Thursday sessions and is now one of the group’s most engaged participants. Looking ahead, Ben wants to develop his interest in football coaching and is exploring the Introduction to Coaching Football qualification as his next personal development goal.

Asked to identify his biggest achievement, Ben did not choose employment or even the opportunity to play football on the main pitch at Millwall. He chose his confidence, saying he can now “hardly remember being unconfident”.

Ben’s journey: From the sidelines to employment and new ambitions

Ben’s journey: From the sidelines to employment and new ambitions