Ella Williams has been nominated for the Pride of Britain King's Trust Young Achiever Award after helping over 800 girls across Manchester get into football.

In 2026, The King’s Trust celebrates its 50th anniversary, alongside 25 years of the Pride of Britain King's Trust Young Achiever Award. For 25 years, the King's Trust Award at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises has honoured extraordinary young people who embody the strength and spirit of the UK. Since its founding, the Trust has supported more than 1.3 million young people in transforming their lives. Here, we introduce one of this year’s standout finalists.

Ella Williams, 29, who lives in Manchester, grew up playing football, but as a teenager, dropped out at age 15 due to body confidence struggles and a desire to fit in socially. She says: "I grew up playing football on muddy grass pitches around Manchester. I have really happy memories of being outdoors with my team, doing laps of the pitch to keep warm.

“As I got older my relationship with sport changed. Being a teenage girl didn’t fit with wearing an oversized football kit and getting my hair wet while playing in the rain. I wanted to fit in and do what my friends were doing, and so I dropped out of football. This experience taught me a lot about why so many girls disengage with sport in their teens.

“I headed to University to study but while I was there, faced a difficult experience which set me back. During the time I was getting back on my feet, I went back to football training, and I found confidence and strength on the pitch. I felt empowered and with a new sense of drive and purpose.”

Years later, while recovering from a difficult experience, she returned to football training to support her mental health, discovering renewed strength, confidence, and purpose. Her revived passion led to a career in player welfare at Manchester City and a role coaching grassroots football.

After learning that 43% of teenage girls drop out of sports, Ella recognised her own story in the data and witnessed firsthand how sports boosted young girls' confidence. Driven to make a lasting impact, she left her job to found Our Goal, a community interest company dedicated to providing safe, empowering physical activity experiences for girls.

Since founding Our Goal in 2023, Ella has partnered with local Manchester universities and colleges to train "Move Mentors" and creating paid and voluntary opportunities for 16 young people. Her team delivers physical activity and mentoring programs in primary and secondary schools across low-income areas, including Old Trafford, Stretford, Wythenshawe, Partington, and Hulme. She offers free sessions, primary school leadership training, and targeted interventions for disengaged secondary school students.

Our Goal has reached over 800 girls and generated an estimated £574,864 in social value. By creating supportive, judgment-free environments, the programs significantly boost mental health: 85% of participants report improved physical fitness and 69% experience higher overall well-being. Ella uses physical activity as a tool to help girls build resilience, overcome self-doubt, and embrace their physical strength. Her inspiring work led her to host a session at the 50th Anniversary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, where she met His Majesty The King.

She says: "I’ve designed our sessions to prioritise wellbeing. I aim to create safe, supportive environments where girls can be active without pressure. By breaking down some of the barriers girls face to being active, such as fear of being judged and not feeling confident, conversations often flow more easily. Many of the girls I work with use it as a time to share what’s on their minds as well as gain confidence and build skills.

“Physical activity isn’t a magic trick that can fix everything, but it is a powerful tool in building stronger, more resilient young people. For many girls, being part of a team or understanding and embracing their physical strength is a big step in feeling better in themselves—both mentally and emotionally.”

*Don't miss Pride of Britain, coming soon to ITV