She Strikers is SA Foundation’s female football and empowerment programme, designed to give girls and young women the opportunity, confidence, and platform to shine — on and off the pitch. We’re creating pathways into football for females at the earliest stages of their lives, while also breaking down the barriers that exist in coaching, refereeing, management, and leadership.
Through inclusive training sessions, mentoring, and workshops, She Strikers encourages participants to develop skills, build friendships, and see themselves represented in spaces where women have historically been under-represented. The programme focuses not only on playing, but on creating a new generation of female leaders, coaches, and changemakers in sport.
Despite progress in women’s sport, girls are still far less likely than boys to be active. Across England, only 46% of girls meet the Chief Medical Officer’s daily physical-activity recommendation, compared to 54% of boys. In Essex, female participation remains even lower — with just 47% of girls regularly active.
Beyond participation, 1 in 3 teenage girls drops out of sport by the age of 16, often due to confidence, accessibility, or cultural barriers. Representation is also a challenge: fewer than 20% of qualified football coaches in the UK are women, and less than 10% hold senior roles within clubs or community organisations. These figures show why She Strikers is vital — ensuring girls and young women have visible pathways, positive role models, and the confidence to lead.
Through weekly football sessions and leadership workshops, She Strikers provides girls with safe, inclusive spaces to learn, play, and grow. Our sessions are designed to be fun, accessible, and supportive — focusing on teamwork, wellbeing, and personal growth rather than competition.
Working alongside schools, clubs, and community groups, we provide progression routes for participants to gain qualifications, become young coaches, and take up volunteering opportunities. By connecting female players, mentors, and coaches, She Strikers builds a supportive community that empowers girls to believe in their abilities — both in sport and in life.
Your support helps She Strikers provide free, inclusive sessions for girls across Essex and Hertfordshire — building confidence, leadership, and equality in sport. Together, we can create a future where every girl feels she belongs on the pitch and beyond.
