Super hub inspires Teachers with the FA’s equal access vision

Secondary PE teachers from across Greater Manchester came together at Altrincham Football Club in November to attend the Super Hubs first Girls Football Secondary School Conference. The event, organised by Bright Futures, in our capacity as North West superhub was run in Partnership with the Football Association’s (FA) PE team. During the afternoon all attendees received information about the FA’s vision of equal access to football for Girls by 2024 and how they can be involved to access training and support to make football relevant on their curriculum. This was in addition to information about the Women’s Euro’s being hosted in England in 2022. This is a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of the Women’s game and provides opportunities for pupils to watch the games live as Old Trafford will be hosting the opening fixture featuring the Lionesses.

The main part of the conference session involved practical delivery ideas whereby the teachers fully immersed themselves in the learning process. The feedback received was fantastic, showing that there is a huge appetite to grow the Women’s Game here in the North West. The delegates will reconvene in February for Part two of the course.

Teachers are just one group of people benefitting from our Super Hub status. In December, students from one of our partner schools will be receiving formal training to put them on the first step of becoming an official. There is currently a shortage of female role models within the Sport but that is about to change as we deliver our first cohort of training in the Whistlers programme.

As a Super Hub we are at the forefront of developments in the women’s game and are used as a test bed for innovations to engage new audiences and support schools across the region with the equal access vision.

There has never been a more exciting time to be involved in football as the FA and Youth Sport Trust launch their national campaign ‘Let Girls Play’. Launched to coincide with the International Day of the Girl, the campaign includes a one-minute film and a website with resources on the health benefits of playing football. This will be reinforced in January with the launch of the Women’s Euro Schools resources giving every girl the opportunity to get involved.

For more information on the FA Girls Football Schools Partnerships and how to get involved visit www.girlsfootballinschools.org