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Aftercare
Supporting players navigating the transition out of academy and professional football.
Football aftercare, mentoring and opportunity
MORE THAN JUST A GAME.
Behind The White Lines was founded by former Premier League footballer and UEFA-licensed coach Steven Caulker to rethink what happens after football.
Because talent is only part of the story. Identity, wellbeing, purpose and opportunity matter just as much.
BTWL is building the definitive model for aftercare in football - supporting players, young people and communities through mentoring, education, and new career pathways.
What we do
Work across every level of the game.
Through elite camps, mentoring programmes, community projects and creative training, we work across every level of the game - from academies, clubs and governing bodies.
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Mentoring
Connecting young people with athletes, academics, entrepreneurs and industry experts.
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Camps
Elite football aftercare camps designed to reset, refocus and re-launch careers.
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Community (BTWL CIC)
Using sport, storytelling and creative skills to unlock opportunity in communities.
Why it matters
Millions watch football. But very few see what happens behind the white lines.
Every year talented players leave academies or professional contracts without a roadmap. At the same time, thousands of young people fall outside traditional education pathways.
BTWL exists to bridge those gaps. We combine elite sport, mentoring, wellbeing and creative opportunity to build new futures.
Founder
Steven Caulker
Former Premier League defender (Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, QPR) and England international.
Now a UEFA-licensed coach and mentor, Steven leads BTWL with a simple belief:
"Sport is a powerful tool for building meaningful relationships and helping young people discover who they really are."
Behind The White Lines
What should aftercare in football look like in action?
Founder Steven Caulker experienced first-hand the pressures of elite sport - the expectations, the identity challenges, and the uncertainty that can follow when the game changes. BTWL was created to respond to that reality.
Today the organisation operates across three connected pillars: elite football aftercare, mentoring and education, and community and opportunity through sport.
Our mission
To become the definitive authority on aftercare in football, while creating meaningful opportunity for young people through sport and creative industries.
How we work
- Elite sport
- Mental wellbeing
- Mentoring and life skills
- Education and career development
- Creative media training
Sport becomes the vehicle for engagement, discipline and trust. From there, we build pathways into football, business, media and the wider performance industries.
A network across sport and society
- professional football clubs
- academies and grassroots organisations
- universities and film schools
- community groups and local authorities
- sports media and creative industries
The goal is simple: build a system where no one leaves the game without direction.
BTWL CIC
Community Impact
BTWL CIC is the community arm of Behind The White Lines. Where the main organisation focuses on football aftercare, the CIC works across communities - providing first chances, second chances and post-sport career opportunities.
The programme combines:
- sport
- mentoring
- creative media
- employability training
A different approach to education
Many young people disengage from traditional education structures. BTWL CIC provides alternative pathways through sports videography and creative storytelling, reconnecting participants with purpose and mainstream opportunities.
Young people learn to:
- film and edit sports content
- document events and matches
- work alongside professional film students
- produce real media projects
Participants who show aptitude can progress into paid creative work, education or further training.
What participants gain
- improved confidence and wellbeing
- stronger life skills and resilience
- new career pathways
- connections to employment or education
The long-term vision is a self-sustaining social enterprise model, driven by partnerships, creative projects and sponsorship.
Mentoring
Mentoring that reflects the real world
BTWL mentoring programmes bring together athletes, academics, entrepreneurs and industry specialists who help young people develop both personally and professionally.
Workshop focus
- Emotional intelligenceRecognising and managing emotions to build self-awareness, empathy and stronger relationships.
- Leadership and communicationThe confidence to lead, collaborate and express ideas clearly in any room.
- Wellbeing and mental resiliencePractical tools to protect mental health and stay grounded under pressure.
- Media and digital storytellingHands-on skills to create, edit and share content with purpose.
- Career pathwaysExploring routes into football, business, media and the wider performance industries.
Positive peer and mentor interaction helps reduce isolation while building teamwork, discipline and trust.
Mentors
- Steven CaulkerFormer Premier League footballer and England international. UEFA-licensed coach and co-founder of BTWL.
- Sue ParrisFormer Head of Education, Welfare and Player Services in the Premier League. Specialist in youth development, emotional intelligence and inclusive education.
- Paul Boross MBEBusiness psychologist and bestselling author who works with FTSE 100 CEOs and performance teams, specialising in communication and mindset.
- Vanessa WallaceGreat Britain Paralympian and British record holder in seated shot put, discus and javelin, championing inclusion and opportunity in sport.
- Julian Oliver FRSACo-founder of BTWL CiC, an Executive Producer with twenty-five years creating content in Asia, Africa, Europe and USA.
- Paul SampsonFormer international rugby player and therapeutic coach blending sport with psychological insight and resilience training.
- Kamali Stevens FRSADigital storyteller and social impact advocate using media to empower communities and highlight systemic issues.
- Bari Malik FRSAEntrepreneurship academic and international business strategist specialising in education innovation and student enterprise.
Programmes
Aftercare and camps designed to reset, refocus and re-launch careers.
Aftercare
Redefining football aftercare
Every year thousands of players leave academy systems or professional contracts. For many, the support ends exactly when it is needed most. Behind The White Lines exists to change that.
Our aftercare programmes focus on the person first, football second.
The BTWL Aftercare Model
Players entering the programme receive support across four key areas:
- Identity & wellbeing
Helping players reconnect with who they are beyond football. - Performance & mindset
Mental resilience, confidence and personal development. - Career pathways
Exploring opportunities inside and outside football. - Ongoing mentoring
Long-term support until the right pathway is found.
Camps
Elite Football Aftercare Camps
BTWL camps provide a reset moment for players leaving academy systems or professional contracts. The goal is not just to find another club - but to help players rediscover purpose, confidence and direction.
BTWL delivers residential aftercare camps in partnership with the football community. These programmes support recently released scholars during a critical transition moment.
Programme structure
Camps combine:
- elite football training
- positional coaching
- resilience and mindset sessions
- career pathway workshops
- nutrition and conditioning support
Players receive
- elite training and positional coaching
- resilience and mindset workshops
- career and education guidance
- mentoring and individual reviews
The week concludes with a showcase match attended by scouts, coaches and agents, helping players take the next step in their journey.
Each participant receives ongoing mentoring beyond the camp until they are placed into the right pathway.
Community integration
Alongside the football programme, BTWL CIC runs evening community activities including:
- school outreach sessions
- leadership workshops
- mentoring events
- creative media projects
This connects players with local communities while building confidence and leadership skills.
Long-term vision
Players also meet mentors, coaches and advisors who help them explore both football and non-football opportunities.
BTWL is building a network of host clubs across the UK and internationally, creating regional hubs for aftercare support and development.
Content
Documentary
Films that move change
BTWL collaborates with filmmakers to create powerful documentaries around the issues shaping our communities and our future.
Catalysts for national impact campaigns from directors connected to the communities they portray, combining authentic storytelling with strategic advocacy.
Each documentary becomes the centrepiece of a wider campaign - engaging audiences, partners and policymakers around the themes that matter most.
Angell Town
Our first project, Angell Town, directed by Sean Phazes, shines a light on the extraordinary work happening on the ground in South London.
Featuring the inspiring impact of The Streetz Football and Lambeth Tigers, the film explores how sport is transforming young lives, building resilience and creating opportunity.
More than a film, Angell Town will anchor a national conversation about youth, community, opportunity and the power of sport to change lives.
Film as a force for impact
BTWL documentaries are designed to travel far beyond the screen. Through partnerships, screenings, discussion events and advocacy, each film becomes the foundation for a national campaign that mobilises audiences and accelerates change.
When powerful stories meet purposeful action, real impact begins.
Get involved
Improve the future of sport.
Behind The White Lines works with clubs, sponsors, educators and community partners who want to improve the future of sport.
Whether you are:
- A football club
- A sponsor or brand
- An educator or mentor
- A young person looking for opportunity
we would love to hear from you.