Ahead of the 20th annual FA Women’s Football Awards, The FA has announced the shortlist for the Best Participation Initiative. The three shortlisted clubs have been recognised for their dedication to increasing participation in women’s and girls’ football across the country, with the outright winner announced at the awards ceremony on Friday 1 June.
The three initiatives shortlisted are:
- Turn up and Play, Preston North End
- Future Fives, Bristol
- Foundation of Light Girls Talent Pathway, Tyne and Wear
Preston North End’s Turn up and Play scheme identifies communities in the local area that have little or no access to sport and provides the chance to enjoy football across all ages and backgrounds. The Preston North End Community Trust works with partners to identify schools and areas that are most in need and has also gone on to offer female only sessions outside of schools, including walking football sessions. The scheme has been hugely successful in the area engaging over 1500 participants ranging from age six to 70.
Bristol’s Future Fives, is one of the three amazing initiatives shortlisted. Please find attached a media alert as well as a case study detailing more info on the initiative.
Future Fives
Future Fives in Bristol is led by three remarkable teenage girls from the Future Fives Youth Council. Having identified the barriers they faced playing football when they were younger, Mel, Lauren and Grace have worked together to design and plan projects that remove those barriers and enable girls to have access to free football sessions across the community, with over 250 participants currently involved.
Foundation of Light
The Foundation of Light Girls Talent Pathway in Tyne and Wear provides a framework that encourages and drives participation in women’s football by hosting a range of creative sessions such as UV football, school football festivals and soccercise. Their goal is to use a wide range of sessions and events to build a life-long love of football regardless of fitness levels or ability.
Lead photos shows some of the younger Future Fives
Courtesy of The FA via Pitch
