What is the aim of the ‘Football Futures’ Programme?
The aim of the Birmingham County Football Association (BCFA) 'Football Futures' programme is to support a selected number Young Leaders as they look to gain invaluable experience and knowledge through volunteering their time to work in football.
This can be achieved through volunteer placements at local Charter Standard Clubs, working at School Sports Partnership based Events and supporting BCFA run events.
What kind of activities can Young Leaders get involved in?
Six leadership and volunteering Football Futures themes are now being used to allow more young volunteers to be involved,
These are:
• Coaching & Working with teams
• Refereeing
• Running Events
• Running and developing the game
• Promoting the game
• Respect
Are there any other benefits?
The Birmingham County Football Association hopes to encourage Young Leaders to make the most of the volunteering experiences throughout the County, provide them with some valuable life skills and will help each Young Leader to gain a number of football related qualifications.
All young leaders signed up to the programme will receive a monthly newsletter including volunteering opportunities, coaching ideas and case studies of young leaders volunteering in the Birmingham County FA region.
Each month Birmingham County FA hopes to provide at least one workshop or key speaker seminar for young leaders signed up to the programme to attend. The key speakers will include football development officers, physiotherapists, full time coaches and PE teachers offering the chance for young leaders to see how, if they wish, they can gain full time employment in sport. The programme of workshops will include topics on coaching the 5 – 11 age group, refereeing, marketing and PR and events management.
BCFA asks all Young Leaders to log their volunteer’s hours, this ensures all hours can be certified for their commitment to the programme and receive rewards in line with their volunteering hours.
Rewards such as t-shirts and hoodies will be provided for the number of hours volunteers complete and the best young leaders will be nominated to be a part of the Aspire2 programme that Birmingham County FA runs. Being a part of the Aspire2 programme you will get further support and access to the very best volunteering opportunities in the County first.
Who is the programme aimed at?
The programme is available to any individual with an interest in football, who is aged between 14-22. Although to be eligible for the FA National 'Football Futures' camp participants must be 16/17 years old on the dates of the camp. (Note - Some other volunteering opportunities may be age restricted)
BCFA are eligible to nominate 2 Young (1 male and 1 female) to represent Birmingham at the National 'Football Futures' Camp and nominations will be sought from our local Charter Standard Clubs and ‘Football Futures’ projects.
The pinnacle of the programme, is that 4 Young Leaders from the National 'Football Futures' Camp are chosen to represent the FA and England, through the 'Changing Lives' Programme, this offers these young people the opportunity to travel to deprived countries, to work alongside and pass knowledge to young leaders from these communities. The 2011 'Changing Lives' Programme is targeted at the Caribbean island of Trinidad.
How can I get involved in the 'Football Futures' programme?
In order to enrole on the ‘Football Futures’ programme you must complete a starter form and then you will be provided with a log book to start logging your volunteer hours. The 'Football Futures' Programme is co ordinate by Claire Mulvenna at Birmingham County FA, if you require further information or would like to register please contact her on
Claire.mulvenna@birminghamfa.com