Football League Trust Celebrates International Women’s Day!

International Women’s Day last week, gave us a fantastic opportunity to promote gender equality and celebrate the achievements of women in sport.  Our Female Football Development programme has thousands of Girls involved and is going from strength to strength, so Women’s day was a great way for Community Trusts to share their success and recognise the contribution that women in sport make to society!

Falling on a Tuesday, when Rotherham United faced top of the league Middlesbrough, it seemed fitting to continue the celebrations throughout the night at that fixture. Various different guests were invited along to watch The Millers and to celebrate this annual event, some of the attendees included Brinsworth Whitehill Girls J.F.C, Rotherham United Ladies and participants who attend the ladies Boot camp sessions we deliver at Eastwood Village Community Centre, Thornhill Primary School and Blackburn Youth Club. Read more here: http://bit.ly/1UirkXP

Crawley Town got involved with International Women’s Day by organising a range of activities, including a girls’ football quiz. Participants at one of our FFD venues were tested on their knowledge on the history of women’s football, before they each made a #pledgeforparity. The girls chose football as the topic and pledged to improve gender parity within the sport by making girls football a hot topic amongst their friendship groups, joining a local girl’s team, supporting a football team and attending more matches, and learning more about football. After this, the girls participated in their usual FFD session, but named their teams after the players they most admired; Steph Houghton and Fara Williams.

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With our wider goals being Sport, Education, Inclusion, and Health, International Women’s Day gave our 72 community trusts an opportunity to tackle these, further encouraging female football participation!

Kinder+ Sport Futsal Cup Final at Derby Arena

Celebrating the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn at Parliament

Last week, ourselves and Ferrero went to Houses of Parliament to celebrate the success of our Kinder + Sport Move and Learn programme.

In the presence of guest of honour, Olympic hero Sally Gunnell, and numerous MP’s we talked about  the programme which this year will get over 30,000 children active and learning about the benefits of healthy eating.

There are strong links between our values and those of Ferrero. Like Ferrero, we believe in the need for a partnership approach to address pressing issues such as inactivity, obesity and the lack of understanding about nutrition and balanced lifestyles. These beliefs very much emulate the work we’ve been doing over the past year with the DCMS and Sport England to find ways to collectively get kids moving more from a younger age, and help them maintain this activity into the difficult teenage years and beyond into adulthood.

By partnering with companies like Ferrero, we are using the commercial resources that they are passionate about putting to good use, to make a valuable contribution to wider society – where we need it most.

Since we launched our partnership with Kinder + Sport in the UK in 2013, we’ve been delighted to see our work grow significantly in scale and impact.

Our flagship programme is + Sport Move and Learn which is a bespoke initiative for schools that we developed with Ferrero.  Alongside + Sport Move and Learn we also partner with Ferrero to deliver our national Kids Cup & Girls Cup together with the 72 FLT clubs, a number of holiday camps and the newly formed Kinder + Sport Futsal Cup.

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The goal of + Sport Move and Learn is to help promote nutritional education and build awareness of the importance of physical activity.  What we value most at the FLT about + Sport Move and Learn is the focus for children on both practical activity and nutritional information.

Over the course of six weeks, children aged 9 and 10 at participating schools spend nine hours learning about the importance of a balanced diet and active lifestyle. Each week the children take part in a 90 minute session that involves 45 minutes of practical activity, either football, handball or dodgeball, and a 45 minute classroom-based session where they learn about topics related to the body; nutrition, the importance of exercise and information about food groups, in line with government recommendations in the Eatwell plate.

The programme was piloted in 2013 with Watford FC.  Since then, with Ferrero’s support, we have significantly expanded the programme to involve 18 football clubs this year across the UK and Ireland.

This year we will reach 31, 600 young people in 450 schools.  And we are reminded of why this initiative is so important when we hear the universally positive feedback from our clubs, from teachers, from parents and, of course, most importantly the kids taking part.

The Rise of Female Football

In the past two years, over 30,000 women were recruited onto our Female Football Development programme, and last year a record number of girls were recorded to be participating in our Girl’s Cup. There is no doubt that female football is on the rise. To capitalise on this success, this year’s FA Girls’ Football Week will be expanded to two events to further enhance the rise of female football.

Commencing Monday 25 April, the first week will be centred primarily on the encouragement of primary and secondary schools to make football sessions accessible for girls. The second, taking place between 10th and 16th October, aims to raise participation at higher and further education establishments. In addition to this, clubs, community groups, and wider educational establishments along with other organisations are also being invited to run female-specific sessions during the week.5b_Editorial_Image_O12

In 2015, more than 16,000 people took part in the event, over triple the original target.  It is intended that 17,340 girls aged five to sixteen take part in the first week, a 20% increase on 2015.

The weeks are being delivered in partnership with Independent Schools FA, English Schools FA, Association of Colleges Sport, British Universities and Colleges Sport, the Premier League and the EFL Trust.  The FA is offering free-to-use resources to participating schools and institutions, which include session guides and promotional materials.  This can be accessed by registering the session at TheFA.com/GirlsFootballWeek.

Kelly Simmons, FA director of football participation and development, commented on the rise of female football: “Following the success of last year’s event it was decided that we could have an even bigger impact on participation levels by running two weeks, focusing on different areas… we hope that if more schools and groups put these sessions the girls will carry on playing regularly, particularly for teenagers where sport drop-out rates can be high… 2015 was a landmark year for women’s football and there’s no doubt that big occasions such as the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley and the Lionesses achievements at the World Cup had a big impact on inspiring more girls to play”.

England and Chelsea forward Karen Carney said: “I visited one of the Girls’ Football Week sessions last year in Birmingham and it was great to see so many girls enjoying playing football… if schools can create more opportunities for girls to try football, then hopefully more will love playing.”

Football is the largest female team sport in England with more than 2.89 million players.  There are more than 5,900 women’s and girls’ teams playing affiliated club football.

For more information please click here.

FFD: Developing the whole of the Women’s Football

From the grassroots to elite level The Football League Trust’s Female Football Development programme is benefiting the whole of the Women’s game, a report reveals this week.ffd2-4x3549-1961081_478x359

Over 30,000 Women and girls were successfully engaged in the first two years of the FFD programme and an interim report into the first few months of year three shows the project going from strength to strength. A further 5,600 women and girls have been engaged so far and impressively 85% have been retained within the game.

Nicol Meredith, The Football League Trust’s Women and Girls Development Officer comments, “Although the programme, which focuses on fun, friends and fitness, is about grassroots development and the many benefits of playing sport, FFD is also is also helping bring players into the higher levels of the game. 15% of participants have now moved into affiliated club football including some who are already with WSL clubs. For example Gabby was initially engaged in Brentford’s FFD programme, the sessions gave her the opportunity to get involved with football again after dropping out at a younger age. Gabby recently went for trials to play for Millwall Lionesses (WSL2) and now plays in their U19 team.”

Nicol, continues, “The option of moving on to a play the game at a higher is there if the girls want to take it, however that’s one of many options available once the initial 10 weeks programme has finished. Many Girls prefer to play the game on a more informal basis and we’ve seen 37% go into recreational football activity.

Paul Jubb: BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero


Bradford Disability Football Club’s Paul Jubb says it’s an amazing feeling for the club to receive recognition, with the head coach collecting the BBC Sport Unsung Hero award for Yorkshire.
Jubb started the team, which is a partner of Bradford City Community Foundation, in 2001 with only 10 players, but he now works with 150 members of varying ages and disabilities.

He was nominated for the award by Steve Parr, a volunteer and father of one of the players, and Jubb says it was an ‘amazing feeling’.

WATCH: BBC Sport – Football coach wins Yorkshire award

“I went to the live show at the BBC [Look North Yorkshire] as they told me I was one of four nominees, but I’d actually won it,” he told football-league.co.uk.

“It’s more about recognition for the the disability club than myself. I like to raise the profile; with the hope of getting more sponsors, volunteers and players. But obviously it’s nice to be recognised for what you do.

“The best thing about the programme we run is that the players get to build their self-confidence, make friends, and they all love being involved with Bradford City – it’s their lives, just like it is mine.

“Football is a great way of socialising and being part of a group with a sense of identity. We just completed a register and we’ve now got 150 members.

“We’re looking to perhaps increase our facilities and put on some extra sessions in the evenings and at the weekends. We never turn anybody away, whatever their disability or age, and want to keep growing.”

Now in its 13th year, the BBC Sport Get Inspired Unsung Hero award celebrates people from around the UK who volunteer their time and effort in encouraging the talents of others, and whose work enables local clubs and groups to thrive and flourish.

BDFCA winner was chosen in each of the BBC’s 15 nations and English regions, with those men and women joining sporting icons at the 2015 BBC Sports Personality of the Year event in Belfast on Sunday, where an overall winner will be revealed.

Ian Ormondroyd, Bradford City Community Foundation manager, reserved praise for head coach Jubb and believes Bradford City are proud of their disability club.

He said: “The players come to the club and feel welcomed, and are able to enjoy themselves, being part of a group that’s very inclusive and very friendly. All the parents get on and the atmosphere is brilliant.

“They play in a disability league but it’s more than just football as they go away on trips all the time. In all, they get to do all the things a normal footballer would – probably more, in fact!

“The players get to go on the pitch at half-time at Valley Parade two or three times a year, and the fans like that.

“Instead of going to get a pie or a pint, supporters tend to stay out and watch the disability club on the pitch, cheering them on. That’s very encouraging for the players – they have a great time.

“It would be great for Paul to win the overall award, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. It’s not about winning – the fact he has been nominated and the club has been recognised is fantastic.”

 

England Star Supports the ‘Old Girls’

England and Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs paid a visit to Crawley Town COGs last week to see how group of older ladies have been bitten by the football bug.

The Crawley Old Girls (COGS) are a group of older women, mainly Crawley Fans and football mums who missed out playing football when they were younger as the opportunities didn’t exist.

More than 20 ladies were in attendance to show off their skills in the latest weekly get-together, showing its never too late to join the female football revolution.

Jordan, who recently won her 24th England cap in the 1-0 win over Bosnia in a European Championship qualifier said: “I think it is great to encourage more people in the women’s game. The last few years have been massive and obviously the World Cup this year when England finished third was a big inspiration to the women’s game.

“The more support that we get and the more we stick together and really put women’s football out there on the map, I think the more people are going to get involved.”

Arsenal and England women’s footballer Jordan Nobbs  visits the Checkatrade.com Stadium Ball Court on Monday to promote the Crawley old girls (COGS) initiative. COGS is aimed at older ladies who have an interest in football and was set up through the Crawley Town Community foundation with funding from the Football League Trust Female Football Development scheme. James Boardman / TELEPHOTO IMAGES 07967642437

The COGs sessions have been so successful that other clubs are following Crawley Town’s lead and the initiative has also attracted financial support from the Football League Trust. The League’s Female Football Development Officer Nicole Meredith also attended Monday’s session.

Amy said: “It was fantastic to welcome Jordan and show her how successful COGs has become.

“She played for England the day before but stayed for two hours and the girls enjoyed having an England player in their session.

“The girls had a fantastic night and I’d like to thank Jordan, the FA and the Football League Trust for helping to make it such a success.”

COGs sessions normally take place on Thursdays from 6.15pm. For more details call Amy on 01293 410000 or email [email protected]

 

Coventry Girls ‘In It Together’

A new project set up by Coventry City’s Sky Blues in the Community to get more teenage girls and women active has been awarded £201,604 by Sport England.

The Female Football Development programme has allowed Sky Blues in the Community to demonstrate a successful track record of engaging young women and encouraging them back in to football and physical activity, which ultimately helped them secure the grant from Sport England.coventry 3

The “In it Together” project will provide a range of free activity and fitness opportunities for women at a number of community centres across Coventry. The Sky Blues in the Community team will also be working with secondary schools across the city to offer extra-curricular sessions to young women aged 14 plus, encouraging a more active lifestyle amongst females across the city.

The aim of In it Together is to provide fitness and activity in an informal way, with no commitment or costs for those involved. In turn this will allow groups of women to get active together and to have fun doing it, sharing their stories and experiences through social media, whilst encouraging each other along the way.

The project has been made possible with funding also provided through Coventry City Council’s Public Health Department, who have allocated £38,000 towards the scheme, which will see the activities delivered for the next three years.

Sky Blues in the Community Health Coordinator Hiedi Sloan, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this Sport England funding. We piloted certain elements of project over the last 12 months alongside our Female Football Development programme and our consultation showed that there was a need for an alternative approach to sport and being active amongst females. Many women may have had negative experiences or perceptions of sport and a combination of that and lifestyle factors may stop them from being active.

“We aim to overcome some of the barriers, through the In it Together programme with our informal approach, and we have a strong network of partners that we are working with to make this a success and really offer something unique to the women of Coventry.”

This project is one of over 40 projects to secure a share in £8.2 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England. Encouraging people to give sport a go, the fund empowers local communities to reach out to people who for one reason or another don’t exercise.

Announcing the funding, Sport England Director of Community Sport, Mike Diaper, said, “It’s great to be working with innovative projects like In it Together which offer more people the chance to get active in a way that suits them best. Given the overwhelming benefits of being active, it’s important that age, gender, or income never prevent anyone from taking part.”

You can find out more details of the programme on the Sky Blues in the Community website www.sbitc.org

Female Football Participation passes 30,000 with the Football League

Over 30,000 women and girls have starting playing football in the past two year with their local Football League club a report reveals this week.

The Football League Trusts Female Football Development programme (FFD) is run by 55 clubs across the country and aims to get women and girls playing the game.  Perhaps more importantly the figures also reveal that over 97% of the women and girls who have been introduced to football have continued to be involved.

Nicol Meredith, Female Football Officer with The Football League Trust, comments, “Getting so many girls involved in the programme that are new to football and the massive retention rates shows the power that football clubs have in their communities. The programme focuses on having fun as well as the social and health benefits of playing football. This innovative approach has led to football clubs running brand new activities that appeal to girls who wouldn’t normally be interested in football such as Soccercise and Zumba Fitness Football, which are football based aerobics sessions. ”

The programme is funded by The FA and Sport England and was launched in 2013 to get women and girls aged 14 and over to start, and continue, playing football using the reach Football League Trusts and Premier League to deliver at grassroots. This is the first time that all four organisations have worked on a project of this kind.  It was announced over the summer that due to the success of the first two years of the scheme more than £3,700,000 of joint FA and Sport England investment will be allocated to the programme by July 2016.

Furthermore with the success of the Lionesses at the World cup, we are looking to capitalise even more on the extra interest that this has provoked and get more girls benefiting from playing football.” As well as getting hard to reach groups involved in the game our sustained approach to developing female participation is getting more women in key positions at professional Football League clubs and their Community Schemes. Nicol, continues “Football has an amazing power to break down all kinds of barriers. Another success of the programme is that participation among minority ethnic groups in the FFD programme is over 20%.

Kids Wembley Dreams Can Come True

The Football League’s Girls and Kids Cup gives school children across the country the chance to compete for an exciting, once in a lifetime opportunity, to play at Wembley Stadium.

The competitions, which are run by The Football League Trust, get underway at the end of the month and will involve over 20,000 children.  Combined, the Cups create one of the country’s largest national football competitions, which culminate in exciting finals at Wembley Stadium in front of thousands of fansbefore a major football final, as schoolchildren live out their dream.

Shaun Harvey, Chief Executive of the Football League commented, “Thanks to deep rooted connections of Football League clubs to their communities, last year over 1.5 million people across the country took part in Football League Trust projects with 22,000 children contesting the Kids and Girls Cups.
“To play at Wembley is a dream for millions of young people and The Football League is proud to make this dream a reality for another group of budding young players and their families.”

Two children whose dreams came true last year were Lawrence Cooper and Alex Fugle. Lawrence scored the winning goal for Huncoats School who were representing Accrington Stanley in the League 2 Kids Cup Final, he said:   “When I scored it was overwhelming, words can’t describe how good it felt. I’ve been dreaming of the moment I score at Wembley for a long time, ever since I can remember. My Dad was in the crowd and he was excited to see me play, so I wanted to win it for him.”

Alex of Elthorne High School, who scored the only goal of the Girls Cup final as Brentford beat Hartlepool, she said “It felt amazing. I’ve always wanted to play at Wembley and score. It’s the best feeling in the whole world.”

The competitions have a unique format.  Each of the 72 Football League clubs run a competition for their local schools, with the winners representing their club, through various stages, on the road to Wembley.

Last season saw both Kids and Girls Cup attract a record numbers of entrants. The total number of boys and girls taking part across both competitions last this year was over 22,000. Mirroring the growth in Women’s football generally the Girls Cup recorded an impressive 20% rise in participation with over 6000 girls taking part.  Whilst the Kids Cup recorded a huge increase of 35% from 2013/14 with 1,974 schools participating against 1,370 in the previous year.

The Football League Girls Cup is a six-a-side competition for girls aged under 13. Each club’s winners represent the club at area and then regional stages, culminating in a grand final prior to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on the 3rd April, 2016
The Football League Kids Cup is a six-a-side competition for children under 11, and sees the 72 clubs split into 3 divisions, in line with club’s divisional status, before being again split into two groups, north and south. The winners of the divisional northern and southern finals then qualify for the chance to play at Wembley before the Sky Bet Football League Play-Off Final of the relevant division.
Schools that wish to take part are encouraged to contact their local Football League club for more details. Further information how how to take part contact your local Football League club’s community trust