OPPORTUNITIES to participate in local grassroots football are being promoted within a new ‘Women and Girls Like Us’ campaign, which outlines Active Essex’s desire to increase levels of female sporting activity.

Women and Girls Like Us (WGLU) forms part of a new ‘Community Sports Improvement Plan’ which Active Essex are driving forward to highlight women and girls in sport. Whether they’re elite athletes, community groups, coaches or young girls, the aim is to inspire others to try something new and find an activity which suits them.

The campaign is a twelve-month initiative which will have a different theme each month. April was the month of ‘Seniors’ and, on Wednesday 26th April, the Essex Women’s Walking Football League hosted their second league fixture of the season. Now in their third season, the league have grown from six teams to twelve teams, with two divisions, and the day was an opportunity to reflect on that considerable success.

The intention is to see the league grow further, so more females can benefit from being involved, and Essex County FA Football Development Officer, Emma Burden, commented: “WGLU is a brilliant campaign which gives governing bodies the opportunity to link in and promote great programmes like the Essex Women’s Walking Football League. The league have grown tremendously since their introduction three seasons ago, and the atmosphere at each event is brilliant!”

Active Essex’s recently-launched Community Sports Improvement Plan (CSIP) is an initiative dedicated to enhancing community sport for all, with football forming a key component. The Essex County FA will work with Active Essex to increase and promote accessible, affordable opportunities for all females, and the goals within the new plan align with many of the targets in the County FA’s own #MovingForward Strategy 2028. The key areas of focus for the CSIP are:

• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): tackle barriers which lead to inequality in participation levels across different demographics
• Safeguarding and Welfare: ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all participants is a top priority
• People (Participants & Workforce): support and develop both participants and the workforce to enhance their experience and performance
• Facilities: striving to ensure that high-quality, accessible facilities are available to all communities, including the use of community places and spaces for sport and activity

As a first of its kind, the plan outlines the partnership’s desire to increase women and girls’ participation in the sector. Over the coming year, Essex will focus on increasing the number of women and girls who coach, volunteer, work and play in the sector.

Hollie Wood, Active Essex Strategic Lead for Sport and Physical Activity, also explained: “Our commitment to enhancing community sport is unwavering. By focusing on equality, diversity, and inclusion, we aim to break down barriers and create a supportive environment for all participants and the workforce. This plan is a significant step towards achieving a more inclusive and thriving sports community in Essex.”

You can find out how to get involved in grassroots Essex football by visiting www.essexfa.com or by interacting with the Essex County FA on social media. May’s Women and Girls Like Us theme is Mental Health, while June is Volunteering. Post using the #WGLU hashtag on X!