On Wednesday 5th February, Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust hosted a Women and Girls in Sport event in the Dome at Watford FC’s training ground, featuring a professional boxer and Watford FC Women star. Female secondary school pupils from Bushey Meads, Longdean, Whitefriars, Townsend, and The Reach Free attended the inspirational and supportive event highlighting women and girls in sport.
During the morning, several activity stations kept the students entertained, of course when at the training home of the Hornets, plenty of football was on the agenda, in addition to a wellbeing workshop delivered by Hertfordshire Mind Network.
A short lunch break later and the pupils were ready for their afternoon of talks with several guest speakers. The school groups circulated in a carousel spending time with our guests, as they discussed a variety of topics. Those involved were professional boxer Shannon Ryan, Watford FC Women’s Anna Filbey, Chloe Wozniak from Herts FA, Hate Crime Officer for Watford and Three Rivers, PC Dani Howlett Bolton from Herts Constabulary, and Frances Lynn from Hornets’ supporters’ group, Women of Watford FC (WOW).
To complete the event, there was an appearance from Watford FC men’s first-team squad with Tom Dele-Bashiru, Imran Louza, and Kwadwo Baah dropping in for a photo and to award the stars of the day.
The day was organised via the Trust’s Premier League Inspires programme. Premier League Inspires uses the appeal of football to help children and young people aged 11-18 years old, to develop the personal skills and positive attitudes to succeed in life. More than 29,000 young people have received 125,000 hours of targeted support across 960+ schools and educational facilities since the programme’s launch in 2019. Premier League Inspires is delivered by 45 professional football club community organisations and is supported by the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Premier League. More than £11.1 million has been invested in the programme, via the Premier League Charitable Fund.
Locally, in Hertfordshire and Harrow, the Trust’s Premier League Inspires programme is managed by their Community Projects Manager (Young People) Lucy Tearle. Reflecting on the event, Lucy said:
“The Premier League Inspires programme continues to allow us to engage local secondary schools and support pupils, away from their typical curriculum and academic study. It has been great to host this event at Watford FC’s training ground with so many fantastic speakers and guests in attendance. Today, we’ve been able to highlight our dedication and passion for ensuring that all young females have access to sporting opportunities and expand their knowledge of future pathways available to them.”
The Women and Girls in Sport event was held as part of Watford FC’s ongoing club-wide commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, building on earlier campaigns such as ‘Women at The Game’ Week. Events such as this demonstrates that efforts continue beyond designated awareness campaigns. For more information on the equality, diversity, and inclusion work at Watford FC and the Trust, contact dave.messenger@watfordfc.com or Ebonnie-Rose.John-Jules@watfordfc.com.
