Sexual health & relationships
Women Standing United
National Anti-Racism Week of Action in Football
The aim of Women Standing United was to encourage females, especially asylum seekers and young women at risk of teenage pregnancy, to participate in football. As well as promoting football as a positive activity, we wanted to encourage and develop female employment in football - and other sports - as coaches and instructors.
An additional aim of the programme was to discuss with the women we brought together issues surrounding being an asylum seeker and teenage pregnancy.
In total we had attendance from 24 young women, of 14 different nationalities as diverse as Eritrea, Burundi, and Uganda, Albania, Iran and Vietnam. The majority of the participants were referred to us by Lambeth Asylum Seekers Team.
We were prepared to cater for up to 40 young women. Turnout varied throughout the course of the 5 days. The average attendance was 11 clients, the best being 16 on the first and last days.
The female only sessions were based in Fusion Sports in Elephant & Castle and were facilitated by a professional London female coach. Brook Advisory Service were also present throughout the week, running an advice service and raising awareness of female sexual and physical health issues.
Two Young Women from the programme went onto an exclusive FA Football Coaching Course specifically for women and passed their qualification. Five more passed the Community Sports Leadership Award.
We have had tremendous feedback from the participants and Lambeth Asylum Seekers Team on the impact of this short programme. The overwhelming requests are that a programme similar to this is run more frequently and for a longer length of time.