The FA NYC has primarily been established to create a voice for children and young people, to help shape and develop football in England by drawing on their expertise, to deliver specific projects for young people such as The FA Football Futures Leadership Camp.
The FA NYC is currently positioned as a subcommittee of The FA Children and Young People Steering group and is supported by The FA National Education Manager, Donna McIvor and The FA Education Project Manager, Steve Swallow.
The goals developed by The FA NYC are drawn from the National Game Strategy, with the group determined to have an impact on;
1. Creating a communication platform for children and young people.
2. Supporting more children and young people to play football and stay in the game for longer to address drop out.
3. Helping to raise standards and create better players.
4. Significantly influencing young people to volunteer in football in a range of roles to become the coaches, referees and administrators of the future.
The FA NYC consists of 12 people from all over England, with different backgrounds and reasons for being involved in football.
Chair of The FA NYC, Lauren O’Sullivan originally from Somerset CFA, began her involvement with The FA in 2006 when she attended the first ever Leadership & Volunteering Camp. Lauren instantly stood out amongst her peers and staff as an outstanding leader and was invited back the following year to sit on the Student Management Team and run the next Camp and then return as a mentor the year after that. Lauren has also had various other roles at the National Camp which have included delivering workshops. Lauren represented The FA as part of the 2018 bid team presenting alongside David Beckham to Sepp Blater.
Lauren now works for British Colleges Sport as a College and Community Football Co-ordinator (CCFC) – developing football in colleges in Somerset.
The longest serving member of The FA Football Futures programme being heavily involved since 2005 and now working as a CCFC for Leeds College, is Laura Danskin. Laura is the Vice Chair of the Group. Laura will be lead officer in designing and delivering the 2012 National Football Futures Camp as well as supporting the council in the delivery of various projects throughout the year. Laura has been supported throughout by West Riding CFA. Laura also represented The FA in their inaugural Changing Lives programme in Lesotho in 2005.
Prathiv Kholia originally from Leicestershire and Rutland CFA and involved with The FA since 2006, is the Head of Administration. Prathiv’s role will be to help administer the meetings as well as providing support to the Marketing and Communications Team. Prathiv brings with him a wealth of experience as a volunteer; coach both in England and America and Sports Development Officer. Prathiv represented The FA in their international Changing Lives programme in Malawi in 2007.
Heading up the Marcomms team is Amreeta Bola. Amreeta is a full time member of staff at The FA working in the National Game department as the Education Administrator. Amreeta will be working closely with Prathiv and Kieren Laverick from Durham FA who will be the Marcomms Officer to devise a marcomms plan to promote Football Futures and the work of The FA NYC. Kieren has recently represented The FA in their 2011 International Changing Lives Trip in Kenya.
Ted Grizzell, a full time Birmingham Skills Coach is the group’s Head of Projects. Ted has gained a myriad of experience by attending, supporting to run The FA National Camp and also delivering at the National Camp. In addition Ted has demonstrated his entrepreneurship skills by establishing and running his own coaching company from the age of 16, before becoming an FA Skills Coach. Ted represented The FA in their International Changing Lives programme in Malawi alongside Prathiv in 2007.
Supporting Ted, will be Laurisa Robson from Derbyshire CFA. Laurisa was on the Student Management Team at the 2011 Football Futures Camp and will play a key role in establishing projects and events the NYC can run, as well as providing support to the 4 NYC members that were selected from the 2011 Camp, that have formed the 2012 Camp Management Team. Laurisa represented The FA in their international Changing Lives programme in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.
The FA NYC members that have been chosen to form the Camp Management Team are Matt Chester from Essex CFA, Lauren Whiteman from Worcestershire CFA, Amir Ameen from Lincolnshire CFA and Robyn Barlow from Huntingdonshire CFA. All of whom were selected for their high levels of leadership, team work, communication and problem solving abilities at The FA National Camp. A key focus of the Management Team will be helping to deliver the 2012 Camp with Laura Danskin.
Doug Howie originally from Worcestershire CFA and now a student at Loughborough University becomes the team’s Head of Finance. Doug will take lead responsibility for raising funds to help the team run a range of desired projects. Doug brings with him experience of being involved in The FA national programme since 2009 and representing The FA as part of their Changing Lives programme in Botswana in 2010.
For further information on The FA NYC please contact Donna.McIvor@thefa.com
For further information about Football Futures, please ‘like’ the Football Futures page on Facebook and follow The Youth Council on twitter @Thefanyc