Meet the Youth Sport Trust's Placemakers
The Youth Sport Trust has three place-based pilots which are operational in three ward-level locations in the UK:
- Prescot, Knowsley
- Perry Barr, Birmingham
- Stepney Green, London
Over the past academic year, in each of these locations, the Youth Sport Trust has been working to identify ‘Placemakers’ who are embedded within their local communities and have a deep understanding of the barriers to participation and specific needs within them.
Youth Sport Trust has worked collaboratively with these Placemakers to map their local stakeholders and systems, supporting development with access to learning, peer mentoring and funded programme delivery.
Who are our Placemakers?
Mariusz Badja (Stepney Green, London)
Mariusz is a PE Teacher at Mulberry Stepney Green School in Tower Hamlets, London, and a Judo coach who runs a Judo club at the school for community members. Mariusz’s aim is to connect and convene the school and community, making better use of local assets to create new opportunities for children & young people to be more active. Mariusz also oversees the development of the ‘Young Place Maker’ project in Tower Hamlets which is the first youth-led placemaking initiative of this kind.
Martin Smith (Stepney Green, London)
Martin is Head of the PE Department at Mulberry Stepney Green School in Tower Hamlets, London, overseeing curriculum and extra curricula. Martin is a keen climber and passionate about providing as many physical activity opportunities as possible to the 1,500 students in his school. Martin oversees the Youth Sport Trust Place Making approach, convening strategic partners from the local area, to open up new relationships and create local solutions to complex problems. Martin works closely with the School & Trust SLT to ensure that education is driving systemic change across the neighbourhood and borough.
Recent success: Haileybury Youth Centre Tower Hamlets Youth services
“Through the creation of our ‘Community of Place’ which Youth Sport Trust have supported us to build, we are now developing a more cohesive link with the Tower Hamlets Youth Service.
“Firstly, we are building links in school with the new team of Sport-focused youth workers in the Borough. Secondly, we are working with the Youth service to increase the uptake at the local youth centres, in particular, the Haileybury Youth Centre immediately opposite our school.
“Both buildings are PFI buildings, therefore we have created a youth club after school, on the school site, which is run by young Placemakers and youth workers, which moves across the road in the evening, to continue at the youth centre. This partnership provides opportunities for students and their families to be active, in a safe environment."
Clare Fox (Prescott, Knowsley)
Clare is an Assistant Principal at the Prescot School in Knowsley, Merseyside, ranked 3rd most deprived area in the country for social inequalities. Clare is responsible for community engagement, improving attendance and behaviour among her 890 students. Clare is passionate that your potential should not depend on your postcode, and is working to forge better connections and relationships with community providers.
Recent Success: Merseyside Youth Association
“With the support of the Youth Sport Trust I convened 30+ local partners at school, in summer 2024 to begin building our ‘Community of Place’. Youth Sport Trust provided some placemaking activities for the new group to work together on, mapping local assets, and improving understanding of the complexity of the system in which they operate, all designed to build trust.
“During the session, conversations and connections took place, which highlighted local assets which were unknown to most people in the room, all within a mile of the school. Off the back of the session, relationships have been formed, and we are now working closely with the local Youth Service provider, Merseyside Youth Association, to open up opportunities for our students to take part in sport & activities, access free courses, volunteer and lead.
“The school has saved a lot of money by not having to take students out of the borough to complete their Duke of Edinburgh as we have now found a purpose-built Outdoor Education centre a mile from the school, and we have also increased the numbers participating at ‘Our Place’ which is a purpose-built Youth facility a mile away from school.”
Mudassar Farooq (Penny Barr, Birmingham)
Mudassar is the Civic Duty and Community Engagement Lead for the Prince Albert Trust, based at Prince Albert Community High School in Perry Barr, Birmingham. Mudassar is passionate about the place where he lives, works and plays. As a community leader, Mudassar lives in the community he serves, which gives him a unique perspective on the issues which the people who live there face, but also a better understanding of the possible solutions. Mudassar does his work ‘with’ people and gives them agency to take ownership and do things ‘by’ themselves.
Recent Success: Saathi House
“As part of the development of a ‘Community of Place & Passion’, with the support of the Youth Sport Trust we listened to community concerns, and it was noted that girls are not accessing opportunities at the same rate as boys. The school subsequently made a connection to Saathi House, which is a vibrant community hub specifically designed for women and girls in the local area.
“The school listened to understand the community's need and appetite and as a result enabled an NFL Flag Football project to provide a safe, inclusive space for young girls to learn, play, and grow. Led by female mentors, it promoted physical fitness, teamwork, confidence, and leadership while fostering diversity and inclusion. Saathi House remains dedicated to empowering women and girls through sports and community engagement, with lots more opportunities planned through the school."