The FA National Youth Council has existed since January 2012. The team is made up of 16 young volunteers in various roles within football. Their vision is to ensure that all young people have meaningful and inclusive opportunities to develop themselves and positively influence the football community. They aim for the representation of young volunteers across the game to increase to ensure they have the opportunity to impact football in a meaningful way. Please read their Gameplan for the 2025/26 season here.

The FA National Youth Council believe that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they possess the energy, skills and ideas to change football and the wider community for the better, today. No decision about young people should be made without young people. The FANYC has representation on the FA Council, representing the voice of children and young people in football and the Football Development Committee that feeds directly into the National Game Board and therefore the decision making for grassroots football across the game.

To view current roles and responsibilities in the FA Youth Council, click here

Follow the FA Youth Council on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn through our Linktree here.

The Regional Youth Network (RYN) is an online Learning & Development programme ran by the FA National Youth Council for youth leaders aged between 16-24. All members of the RYN are involved in youth leadership and volunteering roles across the game. This could be as a part of their County FA Youth Council or an active volunteer in a club or league.

RYN meetings take place every 6-8 weeks online and are designed and delivered with the England Football Personal Development Compass’ eight behaviours at the centre to ensure meetings support the growth and success of young people in the football workforce.

The RYN is a fantastic place to connect from others in the youth leadership ecosystem, reflect on your impact in the game and develop skills to unlock your potential. Please get in touch with the FA National Youth Council at nationalyouthcouncil@thefa.com for more information on how to join the RYN.

The FA Leadership Academy is a 12-month learning and development programme for up to 66 young people aged 16-24. The programme starts with an inspiring four-day residential (all accommodation and food are provided free of charge) including workshops and activities centred around personal development and leadership.

Following this, the young people complete reflective tasks and are supported by The FA National Youth Council and their mentors to deliver a project within their local football community which positively impacts the game. This is all with the aim to aid the development of young people to unlock their potential and positively impact the football community.

Visit our FA Youth Leadership and Volunteering community or get in touch with the FA National Youth Council at nationalyouthcouncil@thefa.com for more information on this programme.

A County FA Youth Council is team of young people, typically between the ages of 16 and 25, who are the voice of the youth in football for their respective counties. This is where the County FA involve young people in a meaningful way. This may be through the development of a youth engagement strategy, delivery of projects and workshops and through giving young people a voice in decisions being made in their county.

County FA Youth Councils are a fantastic way to impact football in your local area. Please contact your County FA to find out about your local Youth Council. Also you can get in touch with the FA National Youth Council at nationalyouthcouncil@thefa.com if you would like some support to do this!

Follow the FA Youth Council on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn through our Linktree here.

Youth Voice in Clubs & Leagues across the game is growing and taking up several different forms, all ensuring that young people have a say in shaping football in their club or league. Club & league youth councils enable youth leaders to be the voice of young people in their club or league and represent their views to committee members. Young people also have the skills and ideas to be committee members in clubs and leagues, representing the voice of young people when making decisions as part of the committee.

If you would like to start a club or league youth council or would like some support in representing young people as a part of your committee, please get in touch with the FA National Youth Council at nationalyouthcouncil@thefa.com or take a look at the Youth Leadership & Volunteering Toolkit (YLVT) here. The YLVT is a fantastic resource providing an introduction to youth voice, youth-adult partnerships and opportunities in the game.

Listen to some of the young people who are enrolled on The FA Youth Leadership Programme and their experiences with volunteering in football: