Squad Girls is an England Football initiative that offers a fun, non-competitive way to play football for girls aged 11-16. StreetGames are proud to be a delivery partner for Squad Girls, ensuring that the benefits of the programme reach young people living in low-income, under-served communities across the country.
Peak Education & Sport, a StreetGames community partner based in Sheffield, have been delivering weekly Squad Girls sessions at Leisure United Graves for the past sixteen weeks. The sessions attract 15 to 20 girls from the local community each week, including participants from low-income backgrounds and diverse ethnic communities, and young people with SEND.
Last week’s football festival kicked off with four activity stations led by coaches and young volunteers from Peak Education & Sport. Despite taking place on one of the hottest days of the year, participants enjoyed a brilliant session of football, teamwork and skills development — with plenty of water breaks to keep everyone safe and hydrated!
After wrapping up on the pitch, participants headed into the sports centre for a celebration featuring drinks, snacks, fruit kebabs and goodie bags, giving them the chance to reflect on their achievements and enjoy time together away from the field.
The local Squad Girls programme is made possible through a strong partnership between Leisure United, Peak Education & Sport and StreetGames, with Leisure United continuing to provide facilities free of charge while partners work to secure future funding.
Lee Coddington, owner of Peak Education & Sport, said: “The impact that I’ve seen on the girls in these sessions is absolutely huge. Friendships have been formed here, and then I see girls socialising in school, looking out for one another — so the work that’s happened here has been really beneficial, not just here but over into the community and the school community as well.”
Glen White, StreetGames Network Support Lead for Yorkshire & Humber, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to introduce Squad Girls through our community partners in Sheffield, helping more of the young people that we exist to support to access football in a way that works for them. Strong partnership working has been critical to the success of this programme, and it’s been great to have been able to celebrate that with today’s festival.”
By creating opportunities for girls from all backgrounds to get active, make new friends and build confidence, the Squad Girls programme continues to make a lasting difference in the local community.