^{Images via Powerleague}

Former Lioness Karen Carney hosted a series of free training sessions at Powerleague Shepherds Bush, kicking off a new initiative with Powerleague to provide playing time for grassroots youth teams that don’t currently have access to football facilities.

The campaign is in response to new research conducted by Powerleague, where the pitch provider surveyed 1,000 girls in the UK between the ages of 8 and 16 in light of England’s Euros success.

While many young girls have taken an active interest in the sport, the majority of girls surveyed weren’t aware of any local initiatives encouraging them to participate, and a whopping 87% believe that gender stereotypes are still prevalent in women’s football.

Despite the negatives, over 80% of girls said that playing football has helped them develop social skills, boosted their confidence, and improved their physical health.

To ensure that young girls continue to experience the positives that come with playing the beautiful game, Powerleague and Carney are offering 100 hours of playing time to grassroots teams at all 41 Powerleague venues in the UK – with an additional five hours has been added for every clean sheet England has kept at the Women’s World Cup this summer.

Carney said: “I was so thrilled to be involved with the sessions Powerleague is giving away to young girls. There are so many benefits to getting girls involved in football from a young age – whether that be confidence, keeping physically fit and building social skills – and I hope that they continue to play for many more years to come.”

The initiative is the latest of many for Powerleague, with the 100 free hours running alongside the women’s leagues, summer holiday camps, and tournaments the pitch provider already hosts. The campaign is an impactful and novel way to both encourage young girls to engage in football and sport, as well as level the playing field for young athletes.

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