Welcome to Hockey Mentors

Who we are

A high-performance field hockey organisation widening access to elite English pathways.

Why we do it

When access increases, competition deepens and national standards rise.

What we do

We align opportunity with talent through structured coaching, competition and connection.

Our Mission

To widen access to elite English hockey pathways so talented players are identified, developed and supported on merit, strengthening competitive depth and raising national standards.

Our Vision

To create a sporting system where opportunity reflects ability and the full distribution of talent is visible, developed and competing at the highest level.

Our Values

1. Meritocratic excellence

We believe elite sport should reflect ability as fully as possible. Talent should be identified, developed and supported on merit.

2. Structural Impact

We address systems, not symptoms. By widening access to elite environments and professionalising delivery, we help align opportunity with ability across the talent pathway.

3. Professional delivery

Sustained impact requires structure. We operate with clear governance, high-quality coaching and professional infrastructure that enables consistent, scalable delivery.

4. Shared Progress

Our work strengthens the whole game. We collaborate with players, coaches, schools, clubs and partners who share a commitment to meritocracy, performance and long-term development.

Research proof Points

of State School Players felt they had a similar/better chance to succeed than private school peers after work with Hockey Mentors.

of Ethnic Minority Players felt they had a similar/better chance to succeed than white peers after work with Hockey Mentors.

felt that Hockey Mentors helped progress their game and opportunities within the performance hockey environment.

Our History

Hockey Mentors began in 2021 with a simple observation; talent is widely distributed but, access and therefore opportunity is not.

Founder Jack Childs recognised that many talented young players weren’t visible within elite hockey pathways. As a performance coach working within the sport at a top university and a state-school player himself, he saw how differences in access could influence which players were seen, supported and able to progress.

Rather than treating this as a participation issue, Hockey Mentors was created to strengthen the talent pipeline itself and raise national standards.

The organisation launched with a national mentoring and development programme. Early programmes brought together players from state schools and ethnic minorities with experienced coaches, including current and former international players.

What quickly became clear was that widening access to elite environments does not dilute standards. It strengthens them. When more talented players are visible, competition deepens. When competition deepens, the quality of the talent pipeline improves.

Over the following seasons the programme expanded rapidly.

National camps and competitions were introduced, players began competing in major indoor tournaments, and teams faced leading school and club programmes across the country. International fixtures soon followed, providing opportunities for boys’ and girls’ teams to test themselves against the best youth sides from across the UK and Europe, winning many competitions along the way.

Alongside programme growth, the organisation strengthened its structure. Hockey Mentors now operates as a professionally structured Community Interest Company, building sustainable infrastructure that supports long-term development within the sport.

Today Hockey Mentors continues to evolve as a high-performance development environment that widens elite pathways while strengthening national standards. By aligning opportunity with ability, the programme increases competitive depth, expands the visible talent pool and demonstrates how inclusive performance can create a genuine competitive advantage for the sport.

What began as a mentoring programme has grown into a professionally structured Community Interest Company delivering national camps, competitions and international opportunities for boys and girls across England. Today, Hockey Mentors continues to align opportunity with ability, increasing competitive depth and demonstrating how inclusive talent strengthens the whole sport.

Discover our Pathways

GOVERNANCE AND SAFEGUARDING

Hockey Mentors creates safe, structured environments where young players can develop with confidence both on and off the pitch.

Alongside high-performance coaching and competition, the programme helps players build resilience, decision-making under pressure and the confidence to perform in demanding environments.

It also creates a strong community of like-minded athletes, where players feel supported, challenged and connected to others with similar ambition and potential.

With clear safeguarding procedures, trusted coaches and strong operational standards across camps, competitions and tours, parents can feel confident their children are developing in secure, well-managed environments, while sponsors and partners can trust in a programme built for long-term impact and responsibility.