In a bid to break down barriers and foster inclusivity in Kent football, we are proud to launch a new initiative, #OnePitchOneGame – Empower Her Game, which has been launched to educate, unite, and promote female involvement in football across our county, both on and of the pitch.

With the overarching goal to encourage more women to embrace football as either players, referees, volunteers, or all, this initiative marks a significant step towards gender equality and inclusion in our game. 

#OnePitchOneGame – Empower Her Game aims to provide a platform that not only celebrates female contributions to the beautiful game but also empowers them to pursue their passion in the game. Through a multifaceted approach, the initiative aims to create opportunities for women of all ages and backgrounds to engage with football in meaningful ways. 

The objectives are simple:

• Promote participation – either as a player, match official, or volunteer.
• Empower leadership– recognising the importance of female leadership in the game, cultivating a generation of female volunteers, coaches, administrators, and referees. 
• Community engagement – to foster a supportive and inclusive community where women feel valued and respected.
• Educate – educating the wider football community on how to best include and support females in their respective clubs and leagues based on the feedback we have received. 

First up, we look forward to meeting over 70 volunteers this evening, at The Ashford International Hotel for the Kent Female Volunteer Forum. The evening will give our volunteers the chance to hear from an inspirational panel of experts in the field and provide volunteers the opportunity to network and unite. On our panel, we welcome Katie Higgins (Safeguarding Case Manager at The FA), Lou Saunders (National Referee Manager at The FA), Natalie Benville (Chair of Deal & Kent FA board), and Natalie Curtis (Academy Manager London City Lionesses).

Then, across the rest of the week, we are excited to be launching two new workshops to support female players and coaches of female players; we will be providing sanitary sample kits with thanks to Lil-Lets to the coaches of U11 teams so their players and coaches feel prepared on the pitch and recognising International Women’s Day on Friday, we will thank the wonderful women involved in the Kent game #IWD2024. 

So, as the #OnePitchOneGame – Empower Her Game initiative gains momentum, it sends a powerful message of empowerment and inclusivity, inspiring women, and girls everywhere to pursue their passion for football without fear or hesitation. Harnessing the collective energy and enthusiasm of female players, volunteers, and supporters, this initiative is poised to make a difference in her game. 

To find out more contact Rebecca Moore, Football Development Officer (Women & Girls) at Rebecca.Moore@KentFA.com