MEET THE TEAM
Delroy Thompson
Director / Head Mentor
Background & Experience
Delroy has worked in communities for over 20 years as a youth worker and for “Dissidence of Windrush”, “Caribbean Roots” whilst coaching many sports teams.
Qualifications
Youth Worker Qualification OutBox Qualification (England Boxing) Sports Fitness Qualification Safeguarding Qualification Photography Level 1 Equality & Diversity Training Substance Awareness Training Relationships and Sexual Education Training Award in Mentoring (NCFE) Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Ofqual) Level 3 Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Ofqual) Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Level 1 Award in Using Sport to Tackle Youth Crime (QCF)
Hobbies
Delroy enjoys being active, playing Football, Cricket, Tennis and using the Gym.
Music is also a very important part of his life.
Luke Freer
Director / Mentor
Started with UP Foundation in 2016
Background & Experience
Youth worker and Mentor with over 12 years of experience.
Community Development Worker with over 10 years of experience.
Lead on a target Gangs project for Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner 2017.
Been involved in Basketball for over 20 years as a player and coach.
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Physical Education Behaviour Change Training Safeguarding Training Contextual Safeguarding Training County Lines Training Mental Health First Aid Using Sport to Tackle Crime Royal Society of Public Health – Train the Trainer Award Level 2 Risk Management Introduction to Youth Work Qualification Preliminary Award in Training Fundamental Movement Level 1 Volleyball Coaching (2005) SAQ Fundamentals Movement Award (2005) Level 1 Athletics Coaching (2004) Level 1 Football Coaching (2004) Level 2 Basketball Coaching (2002) Higher Sports Leader Award Community Sports Leader
Hobbies
Luke coaches Warwickshire Hawks National Men’s Basketball team & he is Captain of Redditch Basketball Club.
He also chairs the West Midlands Basketball England Regional group.
Along with his love for basketball, Luke enjoy's football and is an Arsenal season ticket holder.
Luke also has two young girls that he is very proud of.
Matthew Wilkinson
Director
Teacher: Head of PE and member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Background & Experience
Chairman of Rolls-Royce Basketball Club.
Director of Rise Camps.
Hobbies
Matt enjoys coaching basketball. Alongside this, he enjoys CrossFit and playing basketball
Christopher Raybould
Director
Background & Experience
Chris has worked for a variety of youth organisations, running multiple programmes for young people from different backgrounds.
Chris is passionate about using sport as a platform for youth engagement, and has a undergraduate and masters degree in Sports & Exercise Science, as well as holding a coaching & mentoring post grad award.
Hobbies
Chris loves playing most sports, including football and running. He enjoys youth work, and collaborating with others to make positive change. Chris also coaches recreational running athletes.
Tracy Murphy
General Manager
Background & Experience
Many years working in the Sport sector, leading on Operations, Business Development, Finance, Safeguarding, Sport and Physical Activity Programmes and initiatives.
Extensive experience of Volunteer Management
Voluntary Director for EnV (Coventry) C.I.C leading on Business Partnerships & Welfare
Been involved with Netball for over 30 years as a player, coach, umpire and umpire mentor.
Qualifications
Life Coaching
Mental Health Awareness for Sport & Physical Activity
Safeguarding Everyone and Time to Listen
Duty to Care 2023 (UK Coaching)
Hobbies
Tracy plays and umpires Netball for Henley Netball Club in Coventry, having been a member for over 20 years.
She is currently Vice-Chair of her Club, as well as the Welfare and Player Liaison Officer
Tracy enjoys attending Musical Theatre productions, watching TV & Films and loves watching and playing most sports.
Orrin Pendley
Youth Mentor
Background & Experience
Semi Professional footballer for Rushall Olympic
Previous clubs – Kettering town Redditch united and Alvechurch FC
Youth Mentor & Behaviour management at Hunters Hill College
Hobbies
Orrin has a big interest in football and basketball.
He also enjoys trying different cuisines from all around the world.
Along side this he enjoys traveling and meeting new people.
Bon
Mentor
Background & Experience
4 years working in young offenders prisons teaching music workshops.
DJing since 2008
11 years experience as a Sound Engineer working in recording Studio’s
Hobbies
- Making Music
- Fitness - Gym, Basketball, Hiking
Felicha Downie Brown
Youth & Community Development Professional
Background & Experience
I currently work with community organisations and social enterprises to thrive. I am an experienced manager with over a decade experience of managing services in both the public and third sector. Working closely with young people, families and professionals to identify difficulties, action plan and improve outcomes.
External Examiner for Youth Work and Community at the Birmingham City University.
A Wider Field Representative of the National Youth Agency (ETS) Educational Training Standards Committee.
Qualifications
MA Youth and Community Development JNC – University College Birmingham - 2021
Working with Gangs and Youth Violence - University College Birmingham – 2019
FDA in Service Sector Management – University College Birmingham – 2017
Diploma in Skills for Business – 2022
Expertise
Development and delivery of youth work programmes.
Management of staff, budgets, and operations.
Quality Assurance
Paul Thompson
Denzel Pendley
Background & Experience
I have a degree in Football Business & Marketing at UCFB.
I've worked at Redditch United as a Marketing Intern.
Hobbies
I enjoy playing and watching football.
I also like playing football manager.
I have an interest at looking and investing in crypto currencies.
I also enjoy going to the gym.
Heather Stephens
Operations Manager
Background & Experience
I have worked in the NHS in the West Midlands for over 20 years.
Through working in a variety of clinical and service management roles I have witnessed the relationship between social factors and health.
I’m passionate about promoting good health and wellbeing through sport, education, and community interaction.
Hobbies
I have two amazing children who keep me very busy.
I used to dance and compete in Rhythmic gymnastics and I now enjoy swimming, running and musical theatre.
Leah Joy