About us.
Built by people who know Walsall, for the people who live here.
Built on years of work in Walsall
Walsall Community Active Projects was founded by people who grew up in this borough and have spent years working with its children, young people and families. We are a local organisation, set up to support local people — through sport, education, mental health and wellbeing, mentoring, crime prevention, family support and housing guidance.
Our story began long before the organisation did. Our founder, Martin O'Connor, was born and raised in one of the hardest parts of Walsall and lived there for nearly twenty years. Even though his playing career took him to various parts of the country, he never left the area for long — he always kept a place in Walsall, his home town. He then started and ran an education and football academy in Walsall for nearly a decade, working with hundreds of local young people through football and personal development. Over those years, two things became clear. First, sport really does change lives — but only when it is offered alongside the right support and the right relationships. Second, too many people in our community were still falling through the cracks because services were scattered, hard to reach or did not understand the full picture.
Walsall CAP brings that lesson to life. One trusted local organisation, several joined-up services, and a team that knows what works because they have done it for years.
What we are here to do
We exist to create opportunities for children, young people and adults in Walsall and the wider West Midlands to grow and thrive — regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, faith or background.
By providing safe, inclusive spaces and joined-up support, we aim to:
Led by people who know the game
Walsall CAP is led by a Board of Directors with deep roots in football, education and community development. Together they bring more than a thousand professional football appearances, decades of leadership experience, and a shared belief that sport — when it is offered properly — changes lives.
Martin O'Connor
Founder and DirectorA former professional footballer with more than 450 league appearances, Martin spent his playing career representing clubs across the English game. He went on to serve as Assistant Manager and Caretaker Manager at Walsall Football Club, before founding and running the MOCEFA Education Academy in Walsall for nearly a decade — combining education, sport and personal development for hundreds of local young people. He leads the organisation's day-to-day work and shapes its long-term direction.
Paul Tait
DirectorA former Birmingham City midfielder with more than 250 Football League appearances, Paul made his first-team debut as a 16-year-old and went on to play across the English divisions, including spells with Millwall, Northampton Town and Oxford United, as well as Cypriot club Nea Salamis. Born in the West Midlands, Paul brings strategic insight, sporting credibility and a long-standing commitment to community development.
Dele Adebola
DirectorA retired professional footballer with more than 600 Football League appearances and 156 senior career goals, Dele played for 16 clubs across more than two decades in the professional game. His longest spells were with Crewe Alexandra, Birmingham City and Coventry City. He helped Birmingham reach the 2001 Football League Cup Final and was named Bristol City's Player of the Year in 2008–09. He brings profile, leadership experience and a genuine commitment to opening up opportunities for young people.
And our wider team
Alongside the Board, we are building a team of qualified coaches, mentors and volunteers who reflect the community we serve. Many have lived in Walsall their whole lives. Some have come through tough times themselves and now want to help others find a better path. We are recruiting carefully, because the right team matters more than a quick start, and every person who joins us will be properly trained, DBS-checked and supported. As our team grows, we will introduce them on this page.
If you would like to be part of the team — paid, voluntary, or as a trusted advisor — please get in touch.
Our values
Belonging
Everyone is welcome. No one is on the outside looking in.
Respect
For each other, for the community, for the people who came before and the ones coming after.
Honesty
With our young people, our partners and our funders. We say what we will do, and we do it.
Aspiration
We believe people can grow, and we work hard to help them prove it.
Partnership
We are stronger working with schools, the council, the police, housing providers and other community groups than going it alone.
Accountable and transparent
Walsall CAP is a Community Interest Company. That means we are a not-for-profit organisation, accountable to the community we serve. We are run by a Board of Directors and supported by an experienced team of coaches, mentors and volunteers.
Our community focus is protected by an asset lock. Any surplus we make is reinvested in our work, and if the organisation ever wound down, our assets would pass to another community interest body — not to private individuals.
We have adopted a full suite of policies covering safeguarding, health and safety, equality and inclusion, data protection, financial controls and more. These are listed under the Policy menu and are available to anyone who wants to see them.
We would love to hear from you
If you would like to find out more, get involved, volunteer with us, partner with us, or just say hello — please get in touch.