The Multiplier was life changing – and the best leadership programme I've been on

I still remember what it felt like before The Multiplier programme. I believed in Camden & Islington United (CANDI) with my whole heart, but there was always a quiet voice asking whether I was really the right person to lead it. Looking back now, I'm so grateful for what The Mulitplier experience gave me, because it truly was life changing. From the very beginning, sending us all the things that would get us through Zoom calls – snacks and personalised messages of hope and connection in advance – will be something I never forget.

Being alongside a cohort of brilliant change-makers and having such carefully curated topics to explore and learn about, I found a deep sense of trust in my own intuition that I didn't have before, one that tells me when to take the right action at the right time. I learned to ask directly for what I need, and to tell CANDI's story in a way that engages people and gets them wanting to help. That imposter syndrome we spoke of hasn't vanished completely. If I'm honest it still shows up now and then. But these days I'm so much quicker at batting it away, because the proof really is in the pudding: while several clubs have folded around us, due to the rising costs, CANDI with its deeply entrenched love and hopefulness keeps finding a way forward, and I/we owe so much of that resilience to the tools The Multiplier gave me.

I'm incredibly proud of what we've done at CANDI since. We've revamped and built a thriving Women's football programme that has supported over 200 women in their quest to play football recreationally and competitively. Despite some challenging times, they've competed in Tier 5, just four levels away from the WSL, reached the third qualifying round of the prestigious FA Cup, and built some genuinely beautiful bonds along the way. Watching that grow has been one of the great joys of this journey.

My learning didn't stop with the programme. I'm thankful for every opportunity that's followed. I've been fortunate to join several cohorts to keep developing my practice and expanding my knowledge, and I've taken advantage of some brilliant opportunities:

• I've been a keynote speaker at a Greater London Assembly 'Lunch and Learn', where I presented on building and leveraging community relationships for sustained positive outcomes.
• I was selected as a participant on the inaugural Nike x Gurls Talk's 'Coach in Your Corner' programme, delivering a global initiative to strengthen coaches' capacity to support young female athletes' mental health and wellbeing.
• I've co-facilitated the Go London! strategy day for senior stakeholders across London's sport funding sector.
• I've delivered a keynote speech for the HBSA, presenting to national Hair and Beauty industry leaders on the business case for community-centred approaches.
• I've graduated from the School for Social Entrepreneurs' Go! London 'Match. Trade. Grow. Trade Up' programme.

As always, I'm sure there’s more – but I’m still working out how to sit, with reflect on, and take note of the wins, big or small.

Aside from a wonderfully busy professional life, I've even put some of the skills to good use delivering two best man's speeches at my closest friends' weddings, as well as my own groom's speech at my own wedding. I'm especially grateful for the roots that have grown deepest, as I’ve had the personal privilege of nurturing CANDI's seven-year collaboration with Castlehaven Community Association in Camden, through which we've delivered over 300 free football sessions to more than 700 young people.

There’s so much more to be proud of, so here’s a short list:

• CANDI has faced international opponents from America.
• We've stood in solidarity with teams confronting discrimination.
• We've raised funds through football quizzes to support local charities through COVID, and we delivered parcels to vulnerable adults during the lockdowns.
• Our men's team earned promotion by winning our league, and become London Cup champions.
• The club featured in adverts for TNT Sports and the Women's World Cup.
• We've featured in a Mayor of London video.
• And we raised over £150k in grants, sponsorships and donations.

Honestly, that's still not all of it but I won’t bore you with it!

The bottom line is that everything good that has come to the club links directly back to being part of The Multiplier, and I'll always be thankful for that. The inspiration of knowing I did it alongside such a phenomenal cohort still picks me up on the harder days, and I'm still so proud of that group and all it brought to my life then and brings to the world today. It's amazing to watch so many of the 2021 cohort still fighting the good fight and shining light to an often dark world.

Shhh, don't tell anyone, but The Multiplier, 1000% is the best learning programme I've been on, and it's going to be near on impossible to top.

#NonSibiSedToti #NotForSelfButForAll

With love, Joel and the CANDI family x