James Edwards and Jade Bailey – Speakers at the 22nd EFDN Conference

James Edwards and Jade Bailey – Speakers at the 22nd EFDN Conference

James Edwards, Chief Development Officer, and Jade Bailey, Youth Work Manager, from the Bristol City Robins Foundation, will be featured speakers at the 22nd EFDN #MoreThanFootball Conference in Leuven, Belgium, on the 20th of November.

Together, they bring decades of experience in using football as a transformative tool for youth outreach. James, with 26 years dedicated to reaching young people through football, and Jade, who has spent the last 15 years inspiring young people through her story, will share their impactful work with the ADD-Mentor project. They will be joined by Portia, a project participant, who recently flew on an airplane for the very first time.

Bristol City Robins Foundation is one of the shortlisted clubs for the More than Football Award 2024, recognized for its transformative ADD Mentor project. The ADD-Mentor project has empowered young people in challenging situations with support from Bristol City FC and partner businesses, helping them turn their lives around and pursue opportunities they once only dreamed of. The program encourages youth to become role models in their communities, returning as mentors to deliver football sessions that inspire the next generation. The Foundation aims to create positive change and provide opportunities for young people to pursue brighter futures.

The presentation, titled “ADD Mentor: Inspiring Change through Football,” will cover three main components:

• Project Genesis and Impact: An exploration of the ADD-Mentor project’s creation, its purpose, and evidence of its positive outcomes.
• Voices of Change: A video case study and testimony from Portia, a participant in the program, illustrating the personal impact of the project.
• The Mentor’s Perspective: A video and words from a football mentor who manages and delivers the project, offering a firsthand account of the initiative’s execution and success.

The session will close with an emotional video showcasing the envisioned location for the MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) within the community, emphasizing the profound difference the project makes. Attendees can expect an emotional, personal, and impactful presentation that demonstrates how football can inspire lasting change in young people’s lives.

Register for the conference here.