Field Ladies AFC
1
The Pitch
Problem statement
Field Ladies AFC is a newly formed (2022) women's football club. The club was set up to use football to help support mental & physical well being in women aged 16+. As a club, we partnered with Mind in Bradford to use our platform in sport to raise awareness & money for mental health charities. Depression prevalence in Bradford is above national average with 54,178 people having a diagnosis. We use football to offer a safe space and supportive environment for the LGBTQIA+ community and have seen people and friendships thrive. As an area of high deprivation, we reduce the costs of exercise by applying for funding to subsidise running costs, enabling more women to participate in sport.
Solution
Our focus is to ensure that Field Ladies AFC is sustainable long term. We are committed to continued support for our community. We want to ensure that costs are subsidised to enable people to continue doing what they love throughout the cost of living crisis. We have had players leave as they had no disposable income. These are the people we want to support. Funding will be spent on providing a new playing kit, paying for a training and match day facility and towards the costs of essential equipment such as first aid supplies, footballs and other training equipment. Funding will enable the club to continue for another 2-3 years and the savings will be used to reduce player subscriptions.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
As a newly established Club run completely by volunteers, we have already had 2 successful playing seasons. Our coaching staff are highly experienced coaches with long playing careers in Women's football. We are one of the only grassroots football clubs in West Yorkshire that is solely ran by Women. We have invested in our players to up skill them in FA coaching, welfare support and first aid qualifications to ensure that the Club is self sufficient and sustainable. Our club empowers the players and focuses on helping people thrive and reach their potential. Our biggest achievement as a club is seeing a group of strangers become a family & this has had a massive impact on their mental health
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Playing Kit | £1,000 |
| Training & Match Day Facility | £2,500 |
| Equipment | £500 |
Beneficiaries
30 people
Expected impact
Our project will enable us to continue offering a local facility in an area of high deprivation, where women can participate in physical exercise at a low cost. It will enable us to continue to support the mental well being of women and promote the positive impacts of sport. It will enable us continue to support the growth of women's football and enable us to continue providing a safe and supportive environment for women to freely express themselves and form friendships that ignite their passions and shared interests. It will enable us to continue growing the success of the club and build on our achievements to date. We have already had a positive impact on the mental health of 22 women who now use sport to combat poor self esteem and social isolation. We have supported 3 players financially and provided vital support through pregnancy and bereavement. We pride ourselves on being more than just a "football club".
Track record
"Joining Field Ladies saved my life. I had regular suicidal thoughts and didn't feel like I fitted in anywhere. The coaches and the players were so warm and welcoming from day 1, they have given me a new purpose and joy in life. I can't wait for Sunday's when I am around the team, I have finally found a place where I can be myself, talk openly and honestly about my feelings without being judged. This football club is something special"