About The Russell Martin Foundation

The Aims of The Russell Martin Foundation

The Russell Martin Foundation is a non-profit organisation (registered charity number 1174134) based in Brighton & Hove which uses the power of football to help change people’s lives. It was set up by professional footballer Russell Martin (originally as the Russell Martin Academy), who wanted to give something back to the city in which he was born.

Vision

For our local community to prosper.

Mission Statement

Using the power of football in our local community to empower individuals to improve their lives and their environment.

Our Values

Opportunity
Inclusivity
Quality
Sustainability

Our Strategy

Find out more about our strategy for the future.

See the plan Annual report

Our Environmental Pledges

Discourage single use plastics within all of our provision
Ensure that all company vehicles are hybrid by 2023
All facility management projects will focus on improving the environment
All of our alternative education provision include modules on improving the environment

Our Team

Founder

Russell Martin

Founder

Trustees

Russell Martin

Founder and Chair

Kieran Mercer

Trustee

Kieran is a litigation lawyer whose practice includes sports disputes. He played youth football for Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion before playing non-league and then heading to New York on a soccer scholarship to complete his masters. Whilst in New York, he worked as a delegate at the United Nations and then spent two years teaching and lecturing in Latin America. As a keen rock climber, surfer and mountain biker, Kieran is especially looking forward to contributing to the development of the Russell Martin Foundation’s adventure activities offering.

Kay Watson

Trustee

Kay Watson has worked in education since 1995 and is a primary school deputy head teacher with special interests in inclusion; special educational needs; behaviour and equalities. My commitment to RMF is everything to do with their educational commitment and vision!

James Burt

James, hailing from Southwick and a former student at BHASVIC college in Hove, embarked on his accountancy career early on by joining Cardens Accountants in 2009. With a stellar track record in exams, he achieved the esteemed status of Chartered Certified Accountant in 2014. As an integral part of the Hove team, James obtained his practicing certificate and rose to the position of associate in 2022. His diverse portfolio consists of local owner-managed businesses, and he excels in assisting them with their accounting and tax challenges. James takes pride in his ability to provide straightforward, jargon-free advice and personalised service, building strong and lasting relationships with his clients in the ever-evolving world of accountancy and taxation.

Jamie Martin

Trustee

Born and raised in Brighton. I attended Varndean School where I was Headboy in my final year. I then completed my A-Levels at Varndean College and thereafter achieved a BA in Acting at The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, London. I have spent 25 years as an actor with numerous television, film and stage credits. I am also a playwright who has been performed in two London productions and the Brighton Fringe Festival. Alongside my creative career I have over a decades experience working with a company called Team Thinking who specialise in delivering Leadership and Prefect training to secondary school pupils in both the State and Independent sector. I also worked with Groundtruth Consulting for 20+ years all around the globe, specialising in conflict resolution and Hostile Environment training, with clients such as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the UN and private corporation

Adrian Batchelor

Trustee

Adie is a local, having lived in the Brighton and Hove area for most of his life. He played County football for Southwick, Steyning and Shoreham in the late 70’s through to the early 90’s. His career was in Financial Services and Wealth Management for over 40 years, retiring from a senior leadership role with FTSE 100 Company St. James’s Place in 2019.

Neal Young

Trustee

He started his career in catering operations running hotels before moving into training & development and then senior HR Director roles with such companies as The Rank Organisation, Gala Coral Group, and Inspiring Learning, with over 25 years at Board level. In 2009 he decided to move into the HR Consultancy and Executive Coaching world, having moved to Brighton, with the intention of ensuring that a proportion of his work is within the Third sector. He is currently a Trustee Board Director of three Pension Schemes and Acting Chair of Carers Support West Sussex which is a local charity funded by West Sussex County Council to work with and for family and friend carers. He lives in Kemp Town with my wife, have two grown up children, two grandchildren and am a keen animator, cyclist and supporter of both Harlequins RFC and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Richard Bradford

Trustee

Richard Bradford moved to Brighton in 1990 as a teacher at Falmer School. He later went on to be a Deputy Head at Varndean School before moving to Hong Kong as the Vice Principal of a large international school. In 2011 he returned to Brighton as Headteacher at Dorothy Stringer School. For several years, he was chair of the Brighton and Hove Secondary Headteachers group. He retired in 2019 but has continued to be involved in several education projects, including supporting the work of the Russell Martin Foundation Extra Time Project.