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Nottingham Forest Community Trust recently marked the culmination of its ground-breaking Forest Futures programme with a celebration event at The City Ground. The event welcomed participants from across the two-year programme, along with key partners and supporters including Breaking Barriers Building Bridges and Evolve.
The programme is supported by the Premier League Charitable Fund (PLCF), the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), and the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Partnership (NNVRP).

Launched with the aim of transforming the lives of young people aged 14 to 25, Forest Futures has harnessed the power of football and mentoring to promote positive personal development, reduce risk factors associated with youth violence, and create real opportunities for growth and success.

Over the course of the two-year cycle, the programme has:

• Delivered 89 workshops.
• Mentored 186 young people, including 15 women and girls.
• Engaged with over 35 local organisations.

The programme’s success stems from its innovative model that blends sport, mentoring, and community engagement. Through football training, leadership activities, and one-to-one support, Forest Futures has created a safe and empowering environment for young people to thrive.

Programme Highlights

Trip to London
Participants enjoyed an inspiring trip to the capital, visiting iconic landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Leicester Square, followed by a powerful performance of Punch at the Young Vic Theatre, a Nottingham-based play by James Graham and Jacob Dunne.

FA Referee Courses
Fourteen young people took part in an immersive two-day referee course, developing confidence and learning the skills needed to officiate grassroots football, fully funded by the Trust.

Mentoring Tournaments
Participants proudly represented Nottingham Forest in a youth football tournament against other Community Club Organisations, including Notts County, Derby County, and Burton Albion.

Guest Speakers
Young people had the opportunity to hear directly from former players and current B Team and Academy players – inspiring individuals close to their own age who shared their journeys and offered valuable advice.

Community and Police Engagement
Through events hosted in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police, participants were able to build trust, learn about careers in policing, and strengthen ties within the community.

Duke of Edinburgh Residential
A standout moment saw 27 participants, including refugees from Sudan to take part in a transformative trip to Edale as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. These young people demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and resilience, serving as role models for their peers.

Iftar at The City Ground
A touching Iftar event welcomed refugee participants, who expressed heartfelt appreciation through poetry, a moving tribute to the support and sense of belonging they found through the programme.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

As Forest Futures draws to a close, the celebration at The City Ground was a moment to reflect on the extraordinary journeys of its young participants and the impact the programme has made on their lives and communities.

Arron Cuttriss, Community Engagement Manager at Nottingham Forest Community Trust, said:

“Forest Futures has been a powerful reminder of what young people can achieve when they’re given support, belief, and opportunity.”

“Over the past two years, we’ve seen incredible growth, from participants finding their voice and leading younger peers, to others pursuing qualifications and setting career goals they once thought were out of reach.”

“Every young person we’ve worked with has shown resilience, potential, and the ability to thrive, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”

Calum Osborne, CEO of Nottingham Forest Community Trust, said:

“Forest Futures has shown what’s possible when young people are given the right environment to grow. It has been built on trust, aspiration and opportunity.

“The impact of this programme has been truly transformational, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Premier League Charitable Fund, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Partnership.

“Together, we’ve helped create pathways that will empower young people for years to come.”