Football gives girls a chance in Glasgow

Glasgow Girls FC 

Glasgow Girls FC was established in 2011 to provide football activities to girls, young and adult women, living in Glasgow, as a healthy, safe and fun means of sport and recreation. The club provides football coaching and 16 community football teams to girls and women of all ages, abilities and levels. The club enables women to improve their football skills and methods whilst participating in community tournaments. The club’s facilities are located in Shettleston, Glasgow with each age group training on average 2 evenings per week with a football game at the weekend. The group accommodates all ages and abilities and have training sessions running Monday to Friday to help meet demand. 

Project 

In 2021, The Essentia Foundation awarded Glasgow Girls FC a grant of £1,900.00. Grant monies were used to support the provision of training and qualifications for 10 young women aged between 18 and 24 from the local community who were on Universal Credit and at serious risk of long-term unemployment. The project comprised of a range of learning activities including preparing for employment, employers’ expectations, volunteering as a pathway to employment, working effectively as part of a team, financial inclusion, and introduction to peer mentoring.  At the conclusion of the training programme, Glasgow Girls FC selected six of the participants to progress to paid work placements within their organisation through the Government-funded Kickstart scheme. Glasgow Girls FC anticipated that the project would equip women and girls with new skills, improve their overall health and well-being and build confidence and self-esteem.  

Project activities commenced in April 2021; Glasgow Girls FC recruited 10 young women to the project. Unfortunately, 3 of these participants disengaged with the project due to a variety of reasons. Despite this challenge, the programme moved ahead and 70 hours’ worth of training was delivered on club premises. The project participants also engaged in a range of unpaid volunteer activities and gained valuable work experience. The Club feels that the project delivery methods were effective and the key milestones and outcomes achieved by project participants outstripped expectations.  

Outcome 

If one examines the legacy of this project, The seven young females completing the training programme have all progressed to positive outcomes. These are as follows: 

• 1 Client was recruited to a full-time administrative post with the organisation via the Scottish Governments Kick Start Initiative.  
• 1 Client was recruited to a full-time administrative post with The Shettleston Community Sports Trust. 
• 1 client has progressed to part-time employment in the position of volunteer support worker with Newmains United Football Club. 
• 2 clients have taken up unpaid volunteer positions with the Club and are currently involved in the delivery of football coaching activities and media focused activities at our community media project 

Looking to the future, Glasgow Girls FC will continue to support young females in the community through the delivery of a range of activities that will enhance personal development, educational attainment and skills for employment. 

“Thank you, The Essentia Foundation! Funding has enabled us to help young people move out of poverty and disadvantage.”