Warrington-based FuelHub, the premium meal prep company, has been named the Official Soccer Schools Meal Supplier to City in the Community (CITC), the official charity of Manchester City Football Club.
The partnership comes at a time of increased national focus on tackling child poverty and holiday hunger. The Government’s recently launched Child Poverty Strategy aims to lift around 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, highlighting the critical role of nutritious food in supporting health, wellbeing, and educational outcomes for young people. This collaboration provides a practical, community-level response to those priorities.
Under the 12-month agreement, FuelHub will supply healthy, nutritionist-designed meals to children aged 6–16 attending CITC Soccer Schools across Greater Manchester. Covering 39 days of activity at Manchester City’s state-of-the-art City Football Academy and Connell College in East Manchester, Trinity Sports Centre in Moss Side and Hulme, and Manchester Enterprise Academy in Wythenshawe, the programme is expected to support hundreds of participants during the school holidays.
The initiative directly addresses holiday hunger by ensuring children have access to premium, nutritionist-designed meals while taking part in structured football sessions. Participants are also encouraged to take additional meals home, helping to support families and reinforce healthy eating habits beyond the Soccer Schools themselves.
Alongside physical activity, CITC Soccer Schools provide a supportive environment that promotes positive wellbeing. Sessions are designed to help young people feel confident, included, and active, ensuring a safe and engaging space during the school holidays. The partnership aligns with CITC’s 2025–2028 strategy, which places young people at the centre of its work and aims to empower healthier lives through football.
Michelle Laithwaite, Co-Founder and CEO at FuelHub, alongside former Warrington Wolves player James Laithwaite, said: “We’re proud to work with CITC to ensure young people are properly fuelled while taking part in their Soccer Schools. We transform the health and well-being of everyday high-performers through effortless, nutritionist-designed meals. This programme allows us to give children the energy, confidence, and focus to get the most from every session, while also helping them build healthy habits that can extend beyond the Soccer Schools into their daily lives.”
Louise Wright, Head of Partnerships at City in the Community, added: “Having FuelHub on board as our Official Soccer Schools Meal Supplier means we can provide consistent, high-quality meals to all our participants. This ensures young people have the energy to get the most from the Soccer Schools while encouraging healthy habits they can take home. The partnership strengthens our ability to deliver our strategy, empowering children from challenging backgrounds to live healthier, more active lives.”
Later this year, FuelHub will deepen its collaboration with CITC through a co-branded signature range. The project will place young people at the heart of meal development, giving them a creative role in shaping healthy, nutritious options designed for children.
For more information about City in the Community, visit: www.mancity.com/CITC
