Boston United Community Foundation are pleased to announce they have been awarded £10,000 funding from The National League Trust supported by the Wembley National Stadium Trust. This funding has helped the community sports charity launch a pilot Women’s and Girls football programme in Boston, targeting females aged 11 years and over.

Currently there are limited opportunities for females to participate in recreational football in Boston and the surrounding areas. Boston United F.C. are the only football club in the area with female only teams playing competitive football through their Under 10 to Under 16 and Ladies team, but they find it increasingly difficult to maintain and grow these teams, and help females participate in recreational football due to the lack of services available.

The aim of the initial 30-week project will be to increase the number of girls aged 11 years and over taking part and enjoying football, re-engage those that no longer participate in the game and increase coaching development opportunities for females who may be interested in coaching, refereeing or leadership roles within the game. It will also allow a recreational women’s football session to be set up for those who wish to play recreationally rather than competitive football.

Boston United Community Foundation are working in partnership with Boston United and Boston United LFC, as well as education establishments including Haven High Academy, Thomas Middlecott Academy and Boston College to offer free football sessions to girls. These sessions will be delivered through a range of engaging, informal football activities such as afterschool clubs, 5 a side football, futsal, soccercise, UV Football (Glow in the dark) and schools tournaments.

In thanking the NLT and Wembley National Stadium Trust, project co-ordinator Holly Maidens said, “The main aim of this project is to try and help increase female participation in football, either competitively or recreationally; we believe this project will provide a great way to engage females in football and fill a gap in a provision that isn’t currently being met due to the lack of opportunities in the area. We have set up partnerships with a number of secondary schools to help more girls to play football, and we are hoping to help re-engage females who may not currently play but would like to. Hopefully this project can also provide a pathway for girls who wish to progress further by transitioning in to our girls or ladies’ teams. Without the funding from the NLT and Wembley Stadium Trust, this wouldn’t have been possible so we would like to thank them for their support.”

If you would like more information, or you are interested in forming a partnership with Boston United Community Foundation to offer girls football sessions, please contact Holly Maidens on holly.maidens@bufc.co.uk or call (01205) 364406.