AFC Foundation
The AFC Foundation aspires to connect and empower our communities of today to inspire our young leaders of tomorrow. In committing to our vision, we plan to promote community health by providing football initiatives that encourage active lifestyles, physical and mental well-being and social inclusion.
Our areas of focus in delivering these include; amplifying the importance of active participation and addressing the associated barriers to this, providing practical tools to support education and literacy coupled with mental health-wellbeing and advocating for cultural diversity.
Active participation
Mental health & Well-being
Education & Literacy
Cultural Diversity
Twinning Project
Auckland FC Join Internationally Renowned Twinning Project Initiative
In a New Zealand first, Auckland FC has partnered with the Twinning Project to provide prisoners with a recognised football coaching certificate that supports their reintegration into society. First launched in the UK back in 2018, the Twinning Project works with some of the biggest sports teams in the world. The initiative involves 16 prisoners taking part in a six-week coaching course designed to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.
This is the first time such a rehabilitation project has been undertaken in New Zealand and is the result of a collaboration between Auckland FC, the FIFA Foundation, The Twinning Project, the Department of Corrections, and ASCF operator Serco. In addition to providing a recognised coaching certificate, the course teaches lessons in teamwork, resilience, respect, and leadership.
For Auckland FC, it allows us to live our values of being a positive community player, supporting not only the individuals but the broader community through successful reintroduction and reduced recidivism. As the initiative grows, we plan to include Women and youth in future cohorts. The Twinning Project has been made possible for the first time in New Zealand thanks to FIFA Foundation funding, which extends to support two additional cohorts of prisoners.
How it works:
Sixteen near-end-of-term prisoners selected to take part based on safety and suitability
Participate in six-week coaching course delivered by Auckland FC coaches
Involves six hours of learning each week in both classrooms and on pitches
Participants graduate in week seven and those who complete the course receive a recognised coaching qualification
Duffy Books in Homes
The AFC Foundation works with Duffy Books in Homes to deliver books to schools and early childhood centres around New Zealand. Duffy Books in Homes has distributed over 15 million books to children across New Zealand over 30 years, and they work closely with over 560 schools and 220 early childhood centres.
Duffy Books in Homes wants to get kids reading books and enhance the desire for children to read through book ownership. The children are allowed to take home two books each year to keep forever, helping to achieve their aim of breaking ‘booklessness.’ Auckland FC wants to help encourage the younger generation to read more and instil an association between reading and success at a grassroots level, whilst also working towards our goal of being positively involved in the community. Duffy Books in Homes also has ‘Role Models’ who attend school assemblies, delivering key messages, “It’s Cool to Read” and “It’s Cool to Achieve.” Auckland’s first role models will be Dan Hall and Marlee François, during term 1 of 2026.
How it works:
Children take home two, brand-new books each year to keep
Encouraging the younger generation to read more and associate reading with success
Role models Dan Hall and Marlee François will partake in school assemblies and book presentations
