After a historic year for women’s football in Wales, mentees and mentors of year four of the BE. Football Mentoring Programme came together to celebrate their achievements alongside guests from the FAW and other key stakeholders.
The BE. Football Mentoring Programme supports women aged 18+ to progress their careers in football through one-to-one mentoring, workshops and a variety of work experience opportunities. The programme aims to build participants’ confidence and support their progression in football while developing the skills required to achieve their full potential. Mentees may be those seeking their first role in football or those looking to progress into more senior positions on or off the pitch.
This year, 18 mentees and 18 mentors took part in the programme. The day began with mentors and mentees reflecting on their journeys over the past nine months. Following on from last year, mentees were again set a networking challenge designed to help them overcome any fears around professional networking. Each mentee was tasked with meeting three professionals, with the winner taking home a signed Women’s National Team shirt.
The winner, Seren Farrup, impressed the room with her networking skills and the breadth of experience she had gained in a short period of time. Seren shared discussions she had with Laurence Mora, Co-founder of EatSleep Media, Ella West, Assistant Editor at the BBC and members of the FAW Safeguarding and Disciplinary team. The group were impressed by her determination to turn these conversations into tangible work experience, including shadowing at championship games and picking up shifts at the BBC.
Following this, the mentees took part in Bernie Davies’ ‘Killer Presentations’ workshop, designed to prepare and instil confidence ahead of their afternoon task. Meanwhile, the mentors reflected on their own individual journeys during a session led by Claire Ewing of Pause Play Perform.
The group then had the privilege of hearing from UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister, who spoke about her experiences working in high-pressure environments. She shared how she prepares herself to present in front of large audiences and how to make presentations engaging and memorable.
After lunch, guests arrived to hear each mentee deliver their ‘My Journey’ presentation, sharing the highs, lows and key learnings from their time on the programme. With some aspiring to become coaches, others CEOs and media professionals, mentees spoke about their experiences of shadowing Cymru National Team matches, international camps, and more.
Mentee Angharad Evans said: “The experiences and memories I’ve gained through the programme are truly unforgettable, and I’m beyond grateful for every opportunity I’ve had during this time.
“Six months ago, I never would have stood confidently presenting in front of a crowd, I wouldn’t have comfortably networked, and I definitely wouldn’t have dreamed of hosting a panel discussion. Yet these were some of the things I enjoyed the most, proving there is real value in pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and trying something new.”
Carys Ingram, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability Executive at the FAW, said: “Following four successful years of the BE. Football Mentoring Programme, we will use 2026 as a time to pause, reflect and rebuild the programme. This period of reflection will help us learn from participants’ experiences and evolve the programme with intention, strengthening its foundations and preparing it for an exciting and impactful future.”
