FBB's staff team 2021

Who we are

We exist to change the lives of young people. There are thousands of young people who are passionate about football but are not fulfilling their potential at school.

our mission

FBB works with young people from areas of socio-economic disadvantage who are passionate about football but disengaged at school, to help them finish school with the skills and grades to make a successful transition into adulthood. We do this by providing long-term, intensive support, built around relationships and young people’s passions, in the classroom and beyond.

FBB students support each other in the classroom

Testimonial

“FBB has helped me take a more positive approach towards school. It has broadened my horizons and supported me to approach new situations so I am always the best version of me and can stop getting into trouble.”

Daniel, Ex participant, Elmgreen

Our Team

Lee Parker

Head of External Relations

Sonam Sandhu

Schools Trainee - West Midlands

Rachel Wells

School Trainee - Greater Manchester

Nailah Nisbeth

School Programmes Manager - London

Marco De Bianchi

Project Lead - Greater Manchester

Lynette Agyeman

Finance Manager

Keenah Rosser

Project Lead - West Midlands

Grant Igbokwe

Content Creator & Social Lead - London

Fiona Stebbing

School Programme Manager - West Midlands

Ella Thompson

Schools Trainee - Greater Manchester

Andy Spiers

Office Manager and Operations Assistant - Greater Manchester

Amani Carr

Schools Trainee - London

Marissa Gordon

Learning & Relationships Manager

Roanna Fawcett

Head of Operations

Polly Evans

Partnerships Manager

Martha Clayden

Project Lead - London

Katie Halligan

Project Lead - Greater Manchester

Reiss Corr

Schools Trainee - London

Nuh Hakim Okomi

Learning & Insight Lead

Emma Mackie

Advanced Schools Trainee - Greater Manchester

Tom Parry

Project Lead - London

Yolanda Smith

Project Lead - Greater Manchester

Rhea Gall

Project Lead - London

Logan Davis

Schools Trainee - London

Mustapha Dumbuya

Project Lead - Greater Manchester

Jeremie Tchibo

Project Lead - London

Ciaran Baxendale

Play Forward Programme Lead - Greater Manchester

Charlie Goodson

Project Lead - London

Viktorija Pociute

Digital Systems Manager

Jack Reynolds

Chief Executive

Lorenzo Saidi

Programme Design Manager

Stefan Imeson

Head of Clinical Services

Gabrielle Hamill

Head of Impact

Michael Welch

Content Creator & Social Lead

Roya Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy

Project Lead - Greater Manchester

Sam Hulme

School Programmes Manager - Greater Manchester

Ciara Monahan

School Programmes Manager - London

Pedro Correia

School Programmes Manager - London

Antar Adams

Head of Practitioner Development & North West Programmes

Tom Bateman

Director of Programmes

Joe Watfa

Director of People, Culture & Operations

James Reeves

Senior Press & Advocacy Manager

Ceylon Andi Hickman

Director of External

Our patrons

Chris Smalling became our patron in February 2019. He relates to our mission through his own journey. He lost his father when he was 5 and was brought up in a single parent family. He has a real passion for helping young people achieve their potential and values the power of education to support them. He has been integral in supporting our expansion to the North West of England.
John McAvoy received a life sentence for armed robbery and was sent to Belmarsh Prison. He used sport to turn his life around in prison, breaking a World Record for rowing whilst in the prison gym. He has since gone on to become a professional Iron-Man triathlete. However, it is his devotion to using his life lessons to inspire young people not to make the same mistakes that he did that draws him to FBB. He provides regular guidance to our participants.
Troy Townsend is the Education Manager for the organisation Kick it Out. He leads on their Equality Inspires Programme in partnership with the Premier League. He also leads on Kick It Out’s successful Raise Your Game series, which looks to address gaps in representation across all areas of the game, through mentoring events. He is one of the leading voices in the country, challenging the injustices that continue to exist within grassroots football.
Chris Smalling became our patron in February 2019. He relates to our mission through his own journey. He lost his father when he was 5 and was brought up in a single parent family. He has a real passion for helping young people achieve their potential and values the power of education to support them. He has been integral in supporting our expansion to the North West of England.
Find out more
John McAvoy received a life sentence for armed robbery and was sent to Belmarsh Prison. He used sport to turn his life around in prison, breaking a World Record for rowing whilst in the prison gym. He has since gone on to become a professional Iron-Man triathlete. However, it is his devotion to using his life lessons to inspire young people not to make the same mistakes that he did that draws him to FBB. He provides regular guidance to our participants.
Find out more
Troy Townsend is the Education Manager for the organisation Kick it Out. He leads on their Equality Inspires Programme in partnership with the Premier League. He also leads on Kick It Out’s successful Raise Your Game series, which looks to address gaps in representation across all areas of the game, through mentoring events. He is one of the leading voices in the country, challenging the injustices that continue to exist within grassroots football.
Find out more

partners

our history

The journey began in a common room at a university in London. The university football captain Jasper Kain asked his teammates to embark on a summer football tour with a difference.

Find out more
FBB's history

Our Board of Trustees

Sue Williamson

Director and Chief Executive of SSAT

Indy Saha

Executive Design Director at IDEO

Syreeta Allen

Strategy director at MESME
Two female Football Beyond Borders participants in South London
Get Involved

Help us to improve young people's lives

By making a donation to FBB, you'll be supporting the essential work we do with thousands of young people across the UK each year.

Donate