Progression Empowerment Enjoyment

Ben has been a professional footballer for over 10 years, playing in both the Premier League and Championship, after progressing through the academy at Nottingham Forest. Ben co-founded EFD sport & education in 2019 and along with supporting the production of our programmes, has delivered countless inspiring workshops to students of our partner schools to give them an insight into the life of a pro footballer. Ben is as passionate about helping young people and raising aspirations, as he is when he's on the football pitch!

Jack co-founded EFD sport and education in 2019 together with Ben Osborn. Jack progressed through the Nottingham Forest Academy, before being released as a young pro at age 19. Since coming out of full-time football, he has gone onto coach and mentor hundreds of young people in both sporting and educational settings - supporting youngsters not only in their academic and sporting journey, but also with their personal development. Jack is passionate about using his own experiences to help support our young learners with their next steps.

Laura has 8 years experience working within the secondary and further education sector. Her expertise in the design and delivery of personal development curriculums ensures the highest standard in all aspects of our mentoring provisions, from initial design to implementation, delivery and quality assurance. Aside from her work within education, Laura has a real passion for sport, with netball, athletics and tennis being her preferred sports. Laura is also a qualified yoga teacher and is passionate about promoting positive health and wellness to all of our learners.

Jake progressed through the academy at Notts County, making his first team debut aged 17. He went on to play for a number of clubs in England and abroad, at professional and semi-professional level. Joining EFD in 2020, Jake brought with him a wealth of experience in both sport and education, which is used as a cornerstone on his delivery Jake works both as a mentor within our partner schools, but also as our post-16 lead at partner schools - helping to develop and implement a high quality football programme to compliment the academic offer.

James has worked in the education sector for over 12 years across various roles. His passion and energy in supporting our young learners shines through in his delivery, making him a great role model. James' two favourite roles within education are mentoring students to help them reach their personal targets and sports coaching. The EFD programmes bring these two elements together to maximise the potential of our students.

Billy has always had a keen interest in sport and excelled in various sports as a youngster. He has always been a natural leader and within his role of mentor, he places a high value on ensuring every student is heard, has a voice and is confident within themselves. Billy works both as a mentor and as a coach within our partner schools' post-16 football and education programme.

Akeem came through the ranks at Rotherham United FC, before moving on to play for clubs at the top end of non-league. With his many years of experience in elite sport, Akeem uses his journey to prepare students to not only maximise their education, but also beyond that into further education and their chosen careers. Akeem names resilience, determination and adopting a positive mindset as three of the top traits he aims to instil in all of his mentees, giving them the tools needed to succeed both in and out of school.

Ted is a qualified teacher with a PGCE in Primary Education. He brings a wealth of knowledge around the primary curriculum and individual student development. Ted is exceptional at building positive relationships, helping students feel supported and working with partner school staff to ensure the EFD programme is as impactful as possible. Ted's passion for sport, alongside his relational approach to delivery make him a fantastic role model to the students he works with.

Jack is a bundle of energy and has a 'can-do' approach to mentoring. This positive attitude radiates into his delivery and ensures all of his mentees benefit from every session. Jack has a real passion for sport, and has been involved in football since being a young boy. Jack states that being an EFD mentor gives him an opportunity to positively impact the lives of young people and this is something he feels so passionate about.

Alex is a former professional footballer with years of experience at a high level. He first came to prominence as he came through the academy at Chelsea, before going on to play for Doncaster Rovers and Crewe Alexandra, amongst others. After battling Guillain-Barre syndrome, which impacted his playing career, Alex gradually turned his attention to working with young people in education, using his own unique journey to help them develop and learn valuable life lessons. He now works within our partner schools to use his own experiences to mentor the next generation, emphasizing personal growth, resilience and the impact of physical activity.

Liz is our admin assistant and has been working with us full time since 2023. Liz offers invaluable support for all of the staff with regards to ensuring that the programme runs smoothly. She also works closely with Jack and Laura to ensure that communication between EFD and our partner schools is efficient and effective.