Meet Steven
Steven is the founder of Sports and Life Skills, a community-led initiative dedicated to teaching children valuable life lessons through engaging sports activities. Based at the Mayville Estate, the latest community pitch to be refurbished through the No More Red campaign, Steven has positively impacted hundreds of local youngsters by offering free and accessible sports sessions over the last eight years.
A lifelong Islington resident, Steven's personal experiences inspired him to help young people make positive choices. With over a decade of coaching experience, he's committed to making sports accessible to all, and instead of charging for his services, Steven works closely with the council to ensure funding. Each week, the sports sessions are themed around a different life skill, such as stress management, teamwork, and inspiration. Steven’s initiative provides a safe and stimulating platform for children and parents to interact with other families within the community. Beyond Sports and Life Skills, Steven is an experienced tutor and mentor, and he also serves on the board of the local community centre.
Meet Ellen
Ellen, a former Arsenal Ladies player and England international, has made a significant impact both on and off the pitch. During her playing career she won numerous accolades and her experience as a top-level player has greatly influenced her approach to coaching and mentoring the next generation of footballers.
As Director of the London Football School, an FA Accredited Grassroots club in North London, Ellen is dedicated to providing high-quality football coaching and development opportunities for young people. With a focus on inclusivity and community engagement, LFS works with hundreds of children each year, helping them develop their football skills, foster a love for the game and create a safe and positive environment where young people can grow, learn, and enjoy the sport, regardless of their background.
Recently awarded the Lionesses Award for her outstanding contribution to the development of the women’s and girls’ game, Ellen's commitment to empowering young girls through football is evident in everything she does. She has worked closely with Arsenal in the Community on various initiatives to increase playing opportunities for young girls in Islington and beyond, making football more accessible and inclusive for all. In addition to her work with London Football School, Ellen also manages the Islington Girls District sides, where she continues to inspire and nurture young talent.
Meet Tunde
Tunde’s association with Arsenal started 40 years ago when he represented Islington & Camden, who were closely linked with the club. He started his first soccer school back in 1995 from the Sobell Sports Centre and wanted to use sport to bring together young people from different social, racial and financial backgrounds giving them shared positive experiences. Clare Wheatley gave him his first official role with the club, managing a girl’s side in 1996 that included an 11-year-old Lianne Sanderson, and he went on to coach the boys’ 9-16 age groups for many years.
Since then, Tunde has engaged tens of thousands of young and not-so-young people in the community. He is also involved with the Twinning Project, a program designed to give prisoners an equivalent FA Level 1 qualification, skills that are transferable upon release and guidance to make different choices for a better future.
Meet Zak
Zak is a youth worker and community leader who has spent 15 years empowering disadvantaged young people in Islington by engaging them through football, helping them secure employment, education and training, and advocating for those facing school exclusions. Becoming a certified football coach at 16 allowed him to enter youth work and use football as a tool to steer young people away from serious youth violence and substance misuse. He is a prominent figure within the Somali community in Islington and stands as a source of support and strength for young people.
