Barclays Community Football Fund: Female Coaches for Girls
Overview
Overview
Barclays believe in creating opportunities for all through access to football. Through the Barclays Community Football Fund, they want to grow participation in football at every level.
But despite a huge increase in demand for girls’ football, in England, only 5% of FA-qualified coaches are women, meaning those girls playing lack representation and female role models.
Increasing the number of high-quality female coaches in the girls’ game is crucial to improve standards, and to show girls they can be involved in football in lots of different ways.
Barclays is teaming up with Ian Wright and dedicating grants through the Barclays Community Football Fund to get more women qualified as coaches for girls
This is to meet the massive increase in demand for football amongst girls, with 100,000 more girls now playing football compared to 5 years ago.
Who is eligible to apply?
This fund is available to all clubs and groups that run football activities for girls and aspire to get more female coaches qualified! You are eligible even if you have already received a grant from the Barclays Community Football Fund.
They welcome applications from not-for-profit organisations, including community groups, youth groups, and traditional football clubs, who are submitting on behalf of the individuals who want to undertake their football coaching qualification.
Groups are welcome to apply from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The grant amount will fund a Level 1 or equivalent course in each Nation.
To be eligible for funding, the coaches you put forward must meet the following criteria:
- Identify as female
- Aged 16+
- Already coaching girls or would like to start
- Part of a club or group with girls’ football provision where they would like to begin or continue coaching (i.e. current player, parent of a player, volunteer etc.)
- Can undertake their coaching qualification within 12 months (subject to course availability)
Funding
You can apply for funding to cover the cost of a Level 1 or equivalent qualification and any additional safeguarding and first aid requirements. You can apply to upskill up to two female coaches at your club or group.
The grant amount is determined by how many coaches you want to upskill and what country your organisation is based in. These amounts are below for your information.
- England - £160 for one coach, £320 for two coaches
- Scotland - £120 for one coach, £240 for two coaches
- Wales - £200 for one coach, £400 for two coaches
- Northern Ireland - £220 for one coach, £440 for two coaches
The funding is to be used specifically for training qualifications, to book female coaches on to their Level 1 Introduction to Coaching Football or equivalent course.
What are they looking for
The Barclays Community Football Fund is all about the inclusion of young people from under-represented groups. This includes women and girls, young people with disabilities, from racially diverse communities, from the LGBTQ+ community and from lower socio-economic groups.
They want you to demonstrate how upskilling a new female coach will support the development of your football activities for girls. Tell them why the coach you are putting forward is great, and the positive impact they will have on the girls.
Notes
- When does the funding need to be spent?
Please book on to a coaching course as soon as possible after receiving the funding. The funding will ideally be spent within 6 months, to allow them to monitor the impact of the programme.
- What reporting will you be required to complete?
They will ask you to send a copy of the coaching certificate following successful completion of the course. They will also ask for feedback on how the coach has supported the development of girls activities at your club. Some groups may be selected for an audit and required to provide copies of booking and payment for the coaching course.