The new school year is here, and at Big Ideas, we’re ready to kick off one of our most exciting projects: the Premier League’s Christmas Truce Education Challenge. This powerful mix of history, football, and creativity has been igniting young minds for seven years!
Partnering with the Premier League, we’ve brought the incredible story of the 1914 Christmas Truce to thousands of young players. During this brief ceasefire in WW1, British and German soldiers came together to exchange gifts, take photos, and yes—play football! This moment of humanity amid war is the heartbeat of our project.
Every year, Premier League U12 academy teams compete for places in the U12 Christmas Truce Tournament, held in Ypres, Belgium in December. Five teams will qualify through matches, and three more will earn their spot through a creative WW1-themed education project. And no matter the outcome, every club’s effort will be celebrated!
The 2024 theme, Power in Pals, highlights the story of the Football Battalion, one of the Pals Battalions—friends who signed up together to fight in WW1. It’s all about teamwork, loyalty, and the incredible bonds that unite people even in the toughest times.
We’re thrilled to be part of this incredible journey once again. With football, friendship, and history at its core, the Christmas Truce project will challenge young players to think big. Who will earn their spot in Ypres this year? Let’s find out!