Football Foundation Announces New Funding To Bolster Women's & Girls' Football
The Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation have announced more support through the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund to help meet the growing demand for women’s and girls’ football across the country.
Thanks to funding from The National Lottery through Sport England, the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund, delivered by the Football Foundation, will create more opportunities for women and girls to get involved in football.
Grants will help cover key costs including facility hire, kit and equipment, promotion and publicity, affiliation and league fees, referees, insurance, and coach and volunteer training.
Between May and September, the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund will provide two new amounts for organisations to apply for:
– £500 for clubs or organisations looking to provide recreational football opportunities for women and girls through an England Football Programme including Wildcats, Comets, Squad or Just Play.
– £1,500 for clubs or organisations looking to provide a new affiliated women’s and girls’ team, or mixed disability team, in the following football season.
The additional investment builds on the successful launch of the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund in October last year, which was created in response to the Lionesses’ historic success on the world stage and the surge in women and girls wanting to play football.
Clubs can still also apply to the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund for support to make their facilities more welcoming and inviting to women and girls. Available all year round, this provides up to £25k of funding for a range of enhancements including CCTV, changing room improvements, sanitary bins, exterior lighting, hairdryers and more.
Together, the two opportunities support clubs and organisations with everything they need to give every woman and girl access to a great place to play.
Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation said: “We are delighted to launch the next phase of our Lionesses HERe to Play Fund, continuing our proud support for the growth of the women’s and girls’ game.
“With the support of The National Lottery and our funding partners, the Premier League, The FA and the Government, we want to build on the legacy of the Lionesses’ success.
“It is vital that both existing players, and the new generation of women and girls’ coming into the game have quality, inclusive and accessible places to play.
“We look forward to seeing this funding come to life in communities across the country with more players taking to the pitch and enjoying this great game.”
Stacey Mullock, Head of Development at The FA said: “Since the Lionesses won EURO 2022, The FA has worked with the Government to unlock further investment and build on this momentum to drive long-term growth in the women’s and girls’ game.
“Our ambition is to create equal opportunities for women and girls across football. While huge progress has been made in recent years, we know there is still more to do.
“Until as many women and girls are playing football as men and boys, our work continues. Everyone should have the same opportunity to play the game, regardless of their gender, background or where they live. That’s why this funding is so important.
“Through the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund and our partnership with the Football Foundation, we want to help clubs and organisations open and expand their provisions, with the ambition of delivering 8,800 new opportunities for women and girls to play by 2028.”
For more information visit: Lionesses HERe to Play Fund | Football Foundation
Images: Football Foundation
