Our workforce are our most important feature. They’re the first point of contact for someone looking for help – and they’re the people that continue to offer support for as long as it’s needed.

Our team is made up of 60 full-time staff, 74 sessional coaches and more than 100 volunteers, apprentices and trainees. All are well trained and highly skilled at supporting people – whether that’s on the pitch, in school or in the community. 

Many of our staff have previously been part of one of our programmes. We see the opportunity for beneficiaries to volunteer, to join more structured development programmes, or to join us as an employee, as an incredibly important part of creating better futures and improving lives.

This lived-experience is why we involve our people and our beneficiaries in the development of our organisation and the programmes we deliver. Their input through co-design and co-production of programmes means that our support is offered where it is needed and in a way that breaks down barriers.

Joseph Lyons
Chief Executive Officer

Joseph has over 20 years’ experience working across the community sports sector, providing successful leadership and applying core values of community engagement to pioneer and create influential partnerships and projects. Since joining the West Ham United Foundation as CEO in June 2013, he has delivered an innovative approach to inspire better futures for all, particularly focusing on Health, Education and Inclusion, and breaking down social barriers for young people to achieve. Joseph’s work across East London has been an example of his multi-layered approach to building meaningful collaborations in order to tackle local need and utilise the power of elite sport for social good. With a strong understanding of the effect football has on attitudes towards learning and community engagement, Joseph has developed a number of award-winning sport-based projects in order to create environments for communities that ultimately aims to drive equality and create life-changing opportunities. 

Joseph is also the director of The Second Curve Network (C.I.C), The director of Advantage (C.I.C), and a Board of Trustee for two East London based charities: Foundation for Future London and One Newham. Joseph also volunteers for Homeless Action in Barnet, a local homeless charity that provides night shelter during the winter months.

Yemisi Komolafe
Head of Finance

A Chartered Accountant by profession with over over 20 years wide and varied experience in Finance, Banking and Accounting. On a day-to-day basis, Yemisi manages the company's financial affairs, having joined the Foundation in May 2021.

Bryan Glover
Director of Programmes

Bryan has worked with the Foundation for over 15 years and oversees all football provision across East London, Essex and internationally. Bryan also leads on a wide range of funded programmes, such as Premier League Primary Stars and the Premier League PFA School Model. Bryan has most recently taken over the Foundation's Health department with the aim of increasing its provision and footprint across London and Essex. Bryan has also worked in the Academy as a Lead Team Manager across multiple age groups, and is a former West Ham United Academy player. Bryan also manages a wide range of partnership development, including relationship management and cultivation of working relationships with public and private sector partners within the Foundation.

Jesse Foyle
Director of Programmes

With over 20 years working in education and community settings, Jesse brings significant experience and skills in developing strategy and implementing programmes for positive change. Jesse leads our areas of project work across Education, Employability, and Youth & Community and acts as the strategic lead for Business Development, Training & Workforce and Environmental Sustainability. He has a passion for lifelong learning and the capacity of sport to inspire people and bring communities together.

Ann-Marie Willison
Head of Community Development

Ann-Marie has over 20 years of experience working across the legal, criminal justice and community sectors. Ann-Marie has developed and led successful award-winning crime reduction initiatives which has been proven to reduce crime and improve community relations. Ann-Marie brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills in developing robust impactful relationships within the community and has developed strong working relationships with statutory, voluntary, grassroot and community sectors.

Born and raised in Upton Park, Ann-Marie is very in tune with the local community and has developed robust community strategies to drive positive change and contribute to achieving the Foundations key objectives.

Ann-Marie is also the Equality Diversity and Inclusion strategic lead, developing proactive policies and strategies, building positive relationships and partnerships to respond to the community need and drive a culture of positive change as well as ensuring our community provisions are accessible to all.

Claire Priddle
Head of Safeguarding and Operations
 

Claire oversees the Foundation's daily operations, ensuring it is well coordinated and productive by managing procedures and supporting staff. Claire is also the Head of Safeguarding at the Foundation, with over 13 years Safeguarding experience, in both Professional and Grassroots Football. Claire is an Events Safeguarding Consultant for the Premier League, and also develops and delivers Safeguarding workshops for staff and participants on a wide range of subjects. She develops Safeguarding strategies to embed a culture of proactive Safeguarding, ensuring that all staff and volunteers are suitable to work with young people and adults at risk, and know what to do if they have concerns. Claire has a vast knowledge of where stakeholders and partners are best placed to support Foundation participants and is constantly raising the profile of the West Ham United Safeguarding team by visiting the Foundation venues and external partners. Claire is part of the match day Safeguarding Team at London Stadium and supports Men’s and Women’s Academy Safeguarding. 

Alicia Goulding
Head of Marketing & Communications

Alicia has over ten years’ experience within marketing and communications in the sports industry, primarily working across tennis and football. Her role at the Foundation is wide ranging, with responsibility for overseeing and implementing the charity’s marketing, communications and fundraising plans in accordance with its ambitious vision. Since joining the charity in 2018, Alicia has delivered creative and impactful strategies which have contributed to the rapid development of the organisation, delivered wider industry recognition and increased stakeholder engagement.