I had the pleasure of visiting Birmingham City Football Association (BCFA) to explore potential collaboration with the James Brindley Foundation. The foundation was set up six years ago by the Brindley family, in memory of their son James, who sadly lost his life as the victim of an unprovoked knife crime. As the High Sheriff of the West Midlands fostering connections that benefit our community is an important part of my role.
During the visit, we discussed how we can engage with young people and better educate them about all the issues surrounding knife crime. The reach of the Birmingham FA is huge, having over 6000 teams, around 80,000 players and over 24,000 volunteers within their organisation.
Mark Brindley shared his vision for the foundation emphasising the importance of using sport as a vehicle for personal development, teamwork and resilience. By connecting the BCFA with the James Brindley Foundation we can create pathways for young individuals to not only develop their sporting skills but also gain invaluable life lessons that extend beyond the pitch.
