BACT funding for women's football
Burton Albion Community Trust has been awarded funding to help support the development of girls’ and women’s football throughout East Staffordshire.
For the first time, The FA and Sport England have joined forces with the Premier League and The Football League to provide new grassroots girls and women's football sessions for 14-25 year-olds with professional clubs such as Burton Albion across the country through the new FA Girls’ and Women’s programme.
The joint new FA Women's and Girls' programme, with an investment of over ÂŁ2.4m over the next two years from Sport England funding, will see Premier League and Football League Club Trusts deliver season-long coaching programmes, aiming to reach over 40,000 new female players into the sport.
The Burton Albion Community Trust will be starting a specific programme for women and girls over the coming months led by the Community Trust’s new women’s and girls’ football coach Nicola Mellor.
The Community Trust is working in partnership with key partners such as Staffordshire County FA to increase participation levels across the whole of the female game in East Staffordshire with the overall aim to increase the number of female teams within the area.
In addition to the programmes for females over the age of 14, BACT are rolling out girls’ only holiday courses and soccer centres starting in February half term for girls at a younger age.
Burton Albion Community Trust Development Manager Andy Taylor, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the funding to allow us to support the growing demand for the girls’ and women’s football in the area and with the funding we will be able to engage with young female footballers and maximise participation of female football in East Staffordshire.”
Nicol Meredith, National Women’s and Girls’ Football Project Co-ordinator said: “The Football League Trust, Female Football Development programme is a powerful initiative in which we are pleased to be part of.
“The new programme will not only give many more young women the opportunity to try football, but allow Community Scheme to engage in an innovative way.”
If you’re interested in being involved in the new girls’ and women’s programme please email bactadmin@burtonalbionfc.co.uk or visit http://burtonalbioncommunitytrust.co.uk/.