MORE than 800 girls from 40 schools across Merseyside have signed up to take part in this season’s She Inspires programme, which is designed to improve their confidence and help them to reach their full potential, both on and off the pitch.

Today’s (Thursday, 24 October 2024) action-packed event will give the girls aged 12-14 the chance to take part in fun, motivational football sessions delivered by professional coaches from the LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community and hosted by Liverpool County FA.

Launched by Merseyside’s Chief Constable and Police Commissioner, the event complements the practical workshops delivered by Everton in the Community and LFC Foundation throughout the academic year, covering topics including healthy relationships, resilience and teamwork.

A host of interactive and creative sessions will be on offer from partners including North West Ambulance Service, the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, and community organisations including Activate Body and Mind, AP Coaching and Mentoring, Tower Hill Boxing Club Kirkby, Teen Soul Sisters and Reform Education.  

Merseyside Police’s Matrix, Roads Policing, Mounted and Dogs teams and Merseyside Fire and Rescue’s RTC unit will also be on hand to inspire the girls to consider a career in policing or the fire service through a range of displays.

The programme’s offer continues to evolve each year. This year will see the addition of stadium experiences from both Everton FC and Liverpool FC, match day tickets, training ground access for the tournament winners and more. Liverpool County FA will provide support for girls who wish to access grassroots clubs to continue their football journey or attend coaching and refereeing courses.

Results show the course has helped improve the girls’ feelings of confidence, resilience, and leadership by 90%.

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy KPM said:- “I’m delighted to continue to support the She Inspires programme as it enters its 3rd year, engaging with more young girls and helping them reach their full potential. It’s important to be involved in positive events like this that give us the chance to interact with young people, and build trust and confidence with them. The programme's success is a testament to the dedication of the partners involved, as well as the enthusiasm of the girls who are seizing the opportunity and growing in confidence. I hope that the girls taking part enjoy everything that the programme has to offer as it gets bigger and better each year but most importantly I hope they have fun.”

Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- “Our She Inspires programme goes from strength to strength and I’m so proud of seeing and hearing about the brilliant opportunities it’s provided for the hundreds of talented young women who have taken part so far. As well as providing a platform to engage in sport, She Inspires is also helping improve confidence, resilience and self-esteem whilst showing the young women taking part that dreams can come true and that they can achieve whatever they want in life. I want to thank all of our partner organisations who help make this programme such a success by opening new doors to an exciting new world of opportunity for young women across Merseyside.”

Anthony Harden, Senior Manager of Youth and Support at Everton in the Community said:- "We're honoured to be a part of She Inspires for the 3rd season running. We've seen 1st-hand the impact that this empowering initiative has on young females from across Merseyside and its success is testament to the power of a collaborative partnership. We look forward to supporting even more young girls through the programme this academic year and inspiring them to reach their full potential."

Karl Carney, Department Manager:- Sport & Physical Activity at LFC Foundation, said:- "She Inspires actively engages girls across Merseyside schools through a holistic approach that combines education, participation, and skill development. Our goal is to empower the next generation of female coaches, referees, and role models within their communities. By fostering meaningful partnerships, we’ve seen a significant impact from the programme. This season, we are excited to extend this opportunity to 800 more girls from 40 schools."

Anthony Smith, CEO, Liverpool County FA said:- “It’s fantastic to see the She Inspires programme enter it’s 3rd year of delivery, using football to reach more female pupils than ever. Liverpool FA along with our partners are committed to supporting, developing and educating young females across Merseyside, to equip them with vital life skills – leadership, teamwork, communication, problem solving, self-esteem and self-worth. We hope that all the participants have a great day and that the programme continues to develop and grow each year.”