Young people aged between 15-24 have a new opportunity to help shape and develop the future of local grassroots football by joining the Essex County FA Youth Forum for the 2021/22 season, with applications being welcomed until Thursday 30th September.

The Youth Forum is a team of passionate individuals with a drive to influence change within football from a youth perspective, and recruitment is underway for new members to get involved. The aim of the forum is to give a voice to, and engage with, children and young people, leading on their own projects as well as assisting with key Essex County FA initiatives.

Formed in 2014 with a mixture of knowledge and experience throughout the members across the county. The Youth Forum’s aims are drawn from the County Development Plan, with the group having an impact on increasing the number of children and young people playing and volunteering in football as well as developing a network.

All roles with the Youth Forum are voluntary, but travel expenses are covered to and from meetings and events. Successful candidates will be expected to attend Youth Forum meetings throughout the season. In addition, the team will have opportunities to get involved in many worthwhile and educational events.

These include: FA Leadership Academy, FA Fives Tournament, Grassroots Football Awards, Essex County FA Cup Finals, Grassroots Environment Working Group, Inclusion Advisory Group, Encouraging Youth Volunteering/Player Councils, Soccability League, Coach Development Support, Futsal Competitions. Applications are welcome from all parts of the community.

Gemma Stubbles, Youth Forum Chairperson, explained: “Joining the Youth Forum was one of the best decisions I ever made. Having the opportunity to shape football to ensure every young person can feel safe and included within the game is a fantastic feeling! Being a part of the Youth Forum has helped me to develop as a person.”

“My confidence and presentation skills have been enhanced through the opportunities which being a part of the Youth Forum has given me. My one piece of advice if you are thinking of applying… do it! Push yourself out of your comfort zone - although it may not be the easiest thing to do! You will reap the rewards!”

If you have any questions about the Youth Forum, please E-Mail karl.sear@essexfa.com. The deadline for applications is Thursday 30th September 2021. See below for application details, follow @EssexCountyFA on Twitter and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook. A completed ‘Application Form’ and ‘Section 12 Equality and Monitoring Form’ are required.