Who We Are
Our Story, Mission and Purpose
NYSA began with a simple belief, that sport and education should create opportunities, not barriers. That belief still drives everything we do.
Our Story
Our Story
NYSA was founded on the conviction that young people deserve more than programmes delivered to them. They deserve environments built with them, around their potential, their lives and their futures.
What started as a grassroots initiative connecting sport and education has grown into a global ecosystem spanning multiple countries, sectors and communities. Through every project, partnership and programme, we have stayed true to one core idea: that when young people are given the right support, they lead.
Today, NYSA works across Europe, Africa and Asia, connecting young people, athletes, educators, organisations and communities through a shared commitment to leadership, wellbeing, learning and social impact.
Mission
Our Mission
To build a global ecosystem that empowers young people, athletes and communities to develop as leaders, create opportunities and generate lasting impact through sport, learning and action.
We do this by connecting people with the right environments, the right relationships and the right pathways, so that potential is never limited by circumstance.
Values
Five Values
Five values shape everything at NYSA, from how we design programmes to how we show up for the people we work with.
Passion & Purpose
We are driven by genuine belief in what we do. Every project, partnership and interaction is connected to a deeper reason to create opportunities that matter for real people.
Innovation & Curiosity
We challenge assumptions and stay open to better ways of thinking and working. Curiosity is how we grow, and innovation is how we stay relevant to the young people and communities we serve.
Collaboration & Connection
We believe the best outcomes happen together. We build relationships before we build programmes, and we treat every partner, practitioner and young person as a co-contributor.
Trust & Integrity
We lead with honesty and follow through on our commitments. Trust is built through consistency, in what we say, what we do and how we treat people when things are difficult.
Wellbeing & Care
We genuinely care about the people we work with. Wellbeing is not a metric for us, it is a value that shapes every environment we create.
Purpose
Why We Exist
Sport has the power to change lives. But only when it is connected to education, community, wellbeing and opportunity.
NYSA exists to make that connection real. Not through isolated projects, but through a living, growing ecosystem where young people are seen as leaders in the making, and treated accordingly.
We use sport as a tool to empower, engage and unite people. Our programmes, partnerships and initiatives strengthen young people's pathways in sport and beyond, helping them develop the skills, confidence and networks to thrive in whatever direction they choose.
History
Where We Started
NYSA was founded in Sweden in 2018 by Owen and Lucy Southgate, with a vision to create environments where people could grow through sport. Initially focused on athlete and club development, the aim was to help young people develop not only as athletes, but as individuals, leaders and members of their communities.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience coaching, teaching and developing people across the UK and Sweden, Owen brought together knowledge gained from schools, clubs, community programmes and his work as a Coach Educator and Mentor for The Football Association (The FA) in England.
They built NYSA around a belief that people are complex, that every individual follows a different journey, and that sport can enable people to flourish within the right environments.
From the beginning, NYSA championed what we now describe as the art of play: creating environments where curiosity, creativity, experimentation and enjoyment sit alongside challenge and high performance. It is a philosophy that continues to shape how we design experiences, develop people and build communities today.
As the organisation evolved, so did its purpose. What began as a grassroots sports development initiative grew into a values-led social enterprise, using sport, education and collaborative learning to create meaningful opportunities for people and communities to thrive. Along the way, NYSA has been shaped by coaches, educators, researchers, practitioners, partners and, most importantly, the athletes and young people who chose to build alongside us. Together, they have transformed a small local idea into an international ecosystem.
Today, NYSA works across multiple continents through international partnerships, Erasmus+ funded research and innovation projects, community programmes and collaborative networks that bring together sport, education, health and social impact. Growth has never been the goal in itself. Instead, every partnership, project and conversation has been an opportunity to learn, adapt and create lasting impact with the people and communities we serve.
A New Chapter
In December 2025, Emma Cotterill was appointed Chief Executive Officer, marking the beginning of the next chapter in NYSA's journey. Together with an expanding international team, NYSA continues to build on its founding vision while embracing new ideas, new partnerships and new ways of creating positive change through sport, education and community.
Read Emma's storySustainable Development Goals
Grounded in Global Goals
NYSA's work is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through our ecosystem, we actively contribute to quality education, reduced inequalities, good health and wellbeing, gender equality, and partnerships for the goals.
We believe sport is one of the most powerful tools available to advance the 2030 Agenda, and we are committed to using it responsibly.
Want to Know More?
Explore how we work, what we believe and who we are building with.