_edited.png)
By Aimee Palmer
Roopa Vyas, Director of Her Game Too Cymru was a part of the ‘very insightful’ scheme last year and is currently looking for opportunities in football following her journey.
The scheme is all about building confidence, helping you grow in football, and giving you the skills you need to achieve your full potential and get that step closer to your dream role.
BE. Football takes into consideration your application and partners you with a mentor, who supports you through the duration of the scheme and helps you develop your skills.
Roopa excelled in this scheme from the start with Carys Ingram, Equality Diversity Inclusion and Sustainability Executive at FA Wales praising her journey:
“It was truly a privilege to see Roopa take every opportunity with both hands and connect so closely with her mentor, to allow her to realise her potential and where she wanted to make her mark on the game.
“The programme prides itself on creating environments for women where they can push themselves outside their comfort zone and build a belief that no matter their next step, they can and will do it with the support of the women around them. Roopa was someone who embodied this from the start.”
Roopa started the scheme after being invited to the first year's presentation day and felt ‘inspired’ from the journeys of other who took part in the programme before.
Roopa said: “As somebody who wants to pursue a career in football, this was a huge step forward for me to develop my skills and my network. I think no matter where you are in your career, everybody can benefit from having a mentor.”
Throughout the programme, mentees and mentors get the chance to learn and grow through things like workshops, development days, shadowing, and talks from guest speakers. It’s a great way to gain industry insights, expert knowledge, and make connections, while also getting access to experiences that used to be limited to people already working in the field.
Carys Ingram said: “The BE. Football Mentoring Programme truly is my favourite part of my role thus far. Being able to facilitate environments to watch women not only grow on and off the pitch, but support one another and obtain a belief in themselves that they can and will make their mark in the game, however that may look is truly inspiring.
“It allows me opportunity to grow personally and professionally along with each cohort and build the next generation of strong women being visible and making a positive impact on the game.”
Roopa took pride in being a part of this programme and learnt so much along the way.
Roopa said: “The community of mentees and mentors is special! I realised very quickly that this programme goes beyond football and can lead to friendships. I learned a lot about the skills I already possessed and how to improve them, as well as confidently highlighting them in my “elevator pitch” and on my CV.
“I also learned a lot from other mentees and their journeys. It was very insightful! I am now confidently seeking opportunities in football - a career change I have dreamt of but lacked confidence to go for!”
The BE. Football mentoring scheme now has its applications open to anyone 18 or older - whether you’re already volunteering, working in the game, or just getting started. If you’re looking for your first job in football or want to step up into a bigger role, on or off the pitch, this program’s got you covered.
Roopa has given her advice to future participants:
“Throw yourself in! My mentor, Katy, said on our first day that you will only get out of it what you put in. She was absolutely right! I would also say, don’t compare your journey to others’ as everybody is different. I felt like I wasn’t doing “enough” when in reality, I am on a different path and my journey will reflect that.
“I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Carys, Katy, Lowri and Eloise for making the programme what it is today. It’s an incredible opportunity for women in Wales and one that I will recommend to everybody I meet who wants a career in football!”
Applications to Year 4 are now open and you can find the mentee application and mentor application and details of how to apply here.
