India (2018-2020) - Senior School Sport and Leadership Officer

Hey, I’m India and I was a Team Leader from 2018-2020. As part of my job as a Senior School Sport and Leadership Officer I am also a School Games Organiser and Barclays Girls Football Schools Partnership Lead. My favourite part about being a Team Leader was being part of the young people’s journeys. Wherever they go after the camp, it feels like we have played an important part in their experiences and what they got out of the camp. Also, the treasure hunt around London was the best team building I have ever done!

Being a part of the Team Leader Programme has provided me with the opportunity to develop all skills and I just don't think that you understand what impact that the experiences really have had on you until you think about that fact that you have lead sessions, developed content, supported young people being away from home for the first time, making sure you get yourself and your young people to where they need to be on time, etc. My advice to anyone considering becoming a Team Leader would be just do it. It is such an amazing experience being able to but this on your CV but you also don't know where it can lead you. You could meet a future employer or just simply make best friends for life. It's an opportunity to meet people like you.

Stephanie (2015-2017) - Senior Research Analyst at RAND Europe

I am Stephanie and I was a Team Leader from 2015-2017. I am a Senior Research Analyst at RAND Europe where I conduct research into all topics related to health and wellbeing, with a specialism in lifestyle behaviours, preventative health, primary care and digital health. My favourite parts about being a Team Leader were meeting new people, challenging yourself to learn new skills and push yourself out of your comfort zone, and the community feel whilst you are doing it.

Being a Team Leader has helped to progress my career as it has given some confidence with meeting new people and running activities independently. I was able to learn things like presentation skills, and planning and delivering workshops. My one piece of advice would be to DO IT! It is a great opportunity.

Elizabeth (2021-2022) – Planning Development for Pirelli

Hey, I’m Elizabeth, and I am currently on my placement year at Pirelli working in the planning department and I was a Team Leader from 2021-2022. My favourite part about being a team leader was being responsible for a group of young people and taking charge in situations. I enjoyed being the one that the young people went to and seeing everything to do with all the events across the site. Being a team leader has helped my progress through my career as I learned how to take on more responsibility and be able to take charge of certain situations.

Luke (2013-2015) - Lecturer in Sport Business Management

Hey, I am Luke a Lecturer in Sport Business Management at Sheffield Hallam University and I was a Team Leader from 2013-2015. There is so much that I loved about being a Team Leader; the community of like-minded student-aged young people who saw the value of sport and the feeling of making a positive contribution to the lives of young people with different experience. I also loved the exposure to working with young people from different backgrounds, based on the different residential themes (Girls Active, Inclusive Futures, Talent Identification Programme, Leadership programmes) and gaining unique experiences at a crucial time in my journey as a student, pre-career.

I believe that being a Team Leader helped me progress in my career as well as being a Lecturer at University, a part time role that I have is with Major Sporting Events. To me these feel like YST Team Leader Residentials on a MAJOR, global scale - including going to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi (whilst I was still a TL), Rugby World Cup 2015, London Marathon 2018, Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham & the Olympic Summer Games in Paris 2024 - all using key skills such as organisation / communication and determination that I developed as a YST TL. My advice to anyone who is a Team Leader or considering it would be that you get out what you put in & the juice is always worth the squeeze!