New Future Faces charity of the year revealed
Future Faces, the young professionals division of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, have announced their new charity of the year for 2024-2025.
Birmingham Youth Sports Academy (BYSA) were selected as the new charity of the year, taking the baton from Birmingham Mind, the previous Future Faces charity.
BYSA Foundation was established in 2002 as a voluntary organisation and has received funding from a number of organisations in order to offer football coaching to young people aged 6-18 at Small Heath Leisure Centre – every Saturday morning – from 10:30am-12:30pm.
BYSA deliver multi sports sessions, mentoring, tutoring, trips, employment opportunities, work experience placements, educational support and apprenticeship and centre of excellence development programmes. They help and support the youth and change lives and safe lives, and empower the youth in order to make them leaders of tomorrow no matter what age, race, gender, ability or size.
BYSA have also been recognised by the late HM Queen Award Voluntary Service MBE as well as many other accolades along the way.
BYSA say the funds they will receive as the Future Faces charity of the year will help massively with their work, as they do not receive regular funding or donations, so the funds from Future Faces will help towards hire costs, fees, equipment, professional coaches fees and more.
Nadiyah Hussain, BYSA foundation ambassador, said: “For over 20 years BYSA has relied on the good faith of businesses and individuals in providing support for our organisation.
"Partnering with Future Faces will not only help us promote the work that we do but also provides us with a community of people that can inspire our young people to be the best versions of themselves.
"We look forward to a blossoming relationship with the team at the chamber and the committee in delivering key services to young people in the city.”
Kasim Choudhry, president of Future Faces, said: “I am really proud to be supporting BYSA as FF charity of the year, as there is real synergy in our mission to support young people in the city and the region. I hope through our activities we can support the organisation in breaking down barriers, instilling confidence and growing young people to achieve their dreams.”
Since September 2023, Future Faces has raised a total of £6,874.61 to support previous charity of the year Birmingham Mind, through events such as the Mental Elf Run, charity quizzes, a fashion swap shop, Move More for March and many more.
Kerrie Henry-Edge, fundraising officer at Birmingham Mind, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement with Birmingham Mind’s partnership with Future Faces.
"It’s been such an amazing opportunity to meet so many young professionals, talk to them about Birmingham Mind and the services they offer as well as having some really insightful conversations about mental health in the workplace.
"I was so pleased to be invited on the Podcast to talk about it too. Of course, all of the fundraising events have been lots of fun, especially the most recent swap shop event which was a huge success.
“We are incredibly grateful for all the support Sophie and everyone involved at FF have shown us, thank you all. This fantastic amount raised will go a long way in helping us ensure everyone in Birmingham has somewhere to turn to for support and advice with their mental health.”
Pictured (L-R): Adam Gasby, Jasmine Caine, Nadia Johnstone-Smith, Sarah Griffiths, Nadiyah Hussain, Simrah Abbas, Freya Dearman, Tom Bower and Kasim Choudhry
