Harry Kane joined a select group of footballers when he was awarded the Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual football accolade in the game. He might be remembered for his historic 73-goal season, being England's all-time leading goalscorer, holding the all-time joint-appearance record for the three lines, and much more. But his off-the-pitch endeavours will have a lasting impact on the people and lives he's touched through his advocacy.
From his loan spell at Leyton Orient to the Ballon d’Or, he has maintained his connection with charities and community initiatives beyond his duty as a footballer and England captain, but as a son, brother, husband, father and friend.
Long after his loan spell at Leyton Orient during the club's financial uncertainty due to the COVID lockdowns, he bought the club's shirt sponsorship. He used that space to promote Mind, NHS Charities Together, and Haven House Children's Hospice, which was located where he grew up. These sponsorships were on the shirts for three years, the latter one the footballer is still an ambassador for.
He has used his platform and influence to help others. While at Spurs, 16-year-old Ella Markham, who has Down syndrome, was bullied online for dancing at a match Kane invited her to be his mascot and lead the team out. This is not the first time he has supported young people; he visited a school to present a handwritten certificate to a pupil who had written to him to improve his handwriting.
Kane has also appeared on BBC’s CBeebies Bedtime Stories, reading The Lion Inside, a story about finding confidence and believing in yourself. Through initiatives such as Premier League Primary Stars, he has also supported educational resources designed to help young people deal with rejection and develop self-belief.
Mental health is another area of advocacy for Kane; when he launched his foundation in October 2022, he focused on reducing stigma, improving emotional resilience, and supporting preventative mental health education.
Through a partnership with the charity Bounce Forward, the foundation supports specialised resilience lessons in schools across England, reportedly reaching more than 100,000 young people.
A key commitment is that 100% of public donations go directly towards mental health projects, research and charity partners, including Shout, a 24-hour text-based mental health support service. Kane covers the foundation’s administrative costs himself or through corporate arrangements.
His on-the-pitch attributes undoubtedly helped him succeed; he lent our national items like his MBE, World Cup Golden Boot and rainbow armband for an exhibition.
As England captain, he led the squad to sign a 24-carat gold football, which was auctioned off to raise money to help provide a holiday home for families of seriously ill children.
Kane has also used football to promote inclusion. During the European Championship, he wore a rainbow armband when England played Germany, on the final day of Pride, alongside the German captain.
His support for military veterans has been quieter but sustained. In 2020, Kane became the face of the RBLI Tommy Club, which supports veterans experiencing difficulties. He has also backed initiatives including Lifeworks, which helps disadvantaged former Armed Forces personnel transition into civilian employment, with support addressing mental health and PTSD.
Kane has continued to show his support publicly through gestures such as wearing a poppy, including at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Beyond his better-known projects, Kane has reportedly supported community initiatives addressing homelessness, addiction recovery and domestic violence. One example is support for the development of The 9 House, described as a recovery and transitional support centre offering accommodation and assistance to women and children escaping domestic violence and homelessness.
These activities reflect a broader pattern of using his influence and resources to support people facing difficult circumstances, often without seeking significant publicity.
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