How Developers Can Use CIL and Section 106 Funding to Deliver Meaningful Youth Mental Health Infrastructure
In today’s planning environment, the phrase “infrastructure delivery” is no longer limited to bricks, mortar, and transport upgrades. With the shift toward more holistic community planning, local authorities increasingly recognise youth mental health, emotional wellbeing, and positive engagement as critical components of social infrastructure. Yet many developers are unaware that their Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions and Section 106 (S106) obligations can fund programmes that directly improve outcomes for disadvantaged boys and young people in the communities surrounding their developments.
This blog explores the strategic opportunity for developers to partner with Soccology, a national non-profit specialising in mental health programmes, football pathways, and alternative interventions that transform outcomes for boys who are often underserved by mainstream services.
By aligning CIL and S106 commitments with meaningful youth provision, developers not only strengthen their planning applications but help shape safer, stronger, and more resilient communities.
The Changing Definition of “Infrastructure” in Planning Policy
Historically, “infrastructure” within planning was associated primarily with:
Roads
Schools
Utilities
Medical facilities
Community centres
But the Planning Act 2008 — the legislation underpinning CIL — uses a wide and intentionally flexible definition of infrastructure. It includes:
Community services
Social care
Education
Health and wellbeing
Cultural and recreational needs
As a result, local authorities increasingly publish Infrastructure Funding Statements (IFS) that include youth programmes, mental health support, and educational interventions as legitimate areas for investment.
This shift reflects a critical truth: a community is not sustainable if its young people are not supported.
Where Developers Come In
Development inevitably increases:
Local population density
Pressure on local schools
Demand for youth services
Public expectations of developer contributions
When councils assess planning applications, they evaluate:
Whether new residents will strain existing youth provision
Whether there is a need for enhanced social services
How developers are contributing to community wellbeing
The potential social impact of the development
Because many communities already lack mental health support for young people, especially boys, developers are increasingly expected to demonstrate social value commitments.
Through CIL and S106 contributions, developers have the opportunity to fund projects that directly respond to local need.
This is where Soccology becomes a strategic partner.
Why Soccology?
Soccology works across the UK delivering:
1. Alternative Interventions for Boys Struggling With Mental Health
These programmes are designed for young people who cannot or will not access traditional services. Soccology blends:
Therapeutic conversations
Coaching
Emotional literacy
Practical mental health guidance
Mentoring and personal development
Sessions are culturally sensitive, engaging, and tailored to boys who may feel misunderstood by conventional systems.
2. School-Based Football & Mental Health Programmes
Soccology delivers programmes within schools that combine physical activity with emotional education. These include:
Football coaching integrated with mental health lessons
Self-regulation strategies
Resilience building
Social skills development
Leadership and teamwork opportunities
3. Professional and Educational Football Pathways
Beyond the school environment, Soccology also helps create progression routes for boys who show dedication and talent.
Why This Matters for Developers
1. Developers Can Fund These Programmes Through S106
S106 allows for contributions that mitigate the social impacts of development.
If a development contributes to increased youth population or pressures on local services, targeted mental health interventions become a valid and proactive solution.
2. CIL Can Also Be Allocated to Social Infrastructure
Many local authorities, including major cities, allocate portions of their CIL receipts to:
Youth programmes
Violence reduction initiatives
Mental health services
Community engagement
Sports and wellbeing
Developers can encourage councils to direct CIL funds into local Soccology programmes that support disadvantaged boys.
3. It Helps Bridge Gaps in Existing Services
Many parts of the UK lack sufficient:
School-based mental health support
Youth workers
Early-intervention programmes
Positive male role models
Targeted support for boys at risk of exclusion or disengagement
Developers are uniquely positioned to invest in these gaps.
4. It Strengthens Planning Applications
Local authorities increasingly expect developers to demonstrate:
Community engagement
Social value
Local partnership building
Responsiveness to identified needs
Funding Soccology programmes is a tangible, visible demonstration of social responsibility.
5. It Improves Community Relations and Reduces Objections
Residents care deeply about young people’s safety and wellbeing.
Developer-backed programmes deliver immediate benefits that:
Reduce anti-social behaviour concerns
Improve community cohesion
Increase local support for the development
Strengthen trust and reputation
When communities see developers actively contributing, they respond positively.
Case for Investment: Why Focus on Boys?
Although girls also face serious challenges, national data consistently shows that boys are disproportionately:
Excluded from school
Arrested or criminalised
Struggling with emotional expression
Unwilling to access counselling
Underperforming academically in certain areas
Overrepresented in youth violence
This is not due to a lack of potential — it is due to a lack of tailored support.
Soccology’s interventions are designed specifically to engage boys in ways that feel relevant, respectful, and empowering.
Developers who invest in Soccology help create:
Safer communities
More stable school environments
Greater long-term opportunities for young men
Reduced community tensions around new developments
National Reach Means Local Delivery Anywhere
One of Soccology’s distinctive strengths is its national footprint.
No matter where a development is built — cities, towns, rural edges, regeneration zones — Soccology can:
Deploy practitioners
Deliver school-based programmes
Establish community football & mental health projects
Provide measurable impact reporting
Work directly with local partners
This makes the organisation ideal for developers working across different local planning authorities.
Demonstrating Impact: What Developers Can Expect
Soccology provides impact reporting that includes:
Attendance data
Progress indicators
Pre- and post-intervention surveys
Behavioural improvements
Engagement outcomes
Qualitative insights
Partnership documentation for planning submissions
This evidence can be used within:
Planning statements
Social value documentation
ESG reports
Section 106 agreements
Community consultation packs
How Developers Can Start the Process
1. Identify Local Need
Soccology can support a needs analysis using:
Local demographic data
School exclusion statistics
Youth service gaps
Community consultation findings
2. Engage Early
Developers benefit most when they build social-impact plans early in the planning process.
3. Build Into CIL or S106 Discussions
Soccology can be included as:
A named recipient in S106 agreements
A recommended beneficiary for local CIL allocation
Part of a wider social value package
A delivery partner for youth engagement obligations
4. Deliver Programme Before or During Occupation
This can help reduce community tensions and demonstrate commitment.
Call to Action
If you are a developer or planning consultant looking to align your CIL or Section 106 contributions with impactful youth mental health programmes, Soccology can deliver evidence-based interventions directly in your development area.
Contact Soccology to explore partnership opportunities and demonstrate meaningful social value in your next planning project.
admin@soccology.com