Foundation set to support Girls' Football Week

Foundation of Light is proud to once again support the FA's Girls' Football Week by engaging hundreds of youngsters in exciting coaching sessions and activities. The national campaign runs from Monday 23 April to Sunday 29 April with the goal of encouraging as many girls as possible to play the game. Through its Premier League and FA funded programmes, the Foundation has a whole host of events going on for girls of all ages, some of which are FREE to attend! Our Evening and Weekend sessions kick off the week, with Monday's Little Dribblers at Chester-le-Street One Point Hub and Doxford Park Community Centre offering youngsters aged 3-5 years a fun introduction to football through with our specialist coaches. On Tuesday, our new SSE Wildcats Girls' Football Club returns to Harton Technology College providing girls aged 5-11 with regular opportunities to play football in a fun and engaging environment. Wednesday will see members of the SAFC Ladies squad making a surprise visit to a Sunderland school where they will support with a training session and take part in a question and answer session with pupils. An action-packed Thursday begins with a Premier League Girls Football Tournament at Silksworth Sports Complex with 90 young players from secondary schools across the North East as well as a College/University Tournament in the afternoon. The Foundation will also be announcing its SAFC Ladies PFA Community Champion who has inspired youngsters to get involved in sport through a variety of community programmes. Sunderland and Gateshead Regional Talent Club, the North East's elite girls coaching centre, will celebrate a successful season on Thursday with friendly matches against Teesside Regional Talent Club. To be a part of next season's squads, sign up for the upcoming Open Trials at the Beacon of Light! Rounding off the week, the Foundation will be hosting a Girls Football Festival at Hetton School for local primary schools. Then, Sunderland RTC Technical Director Claire Robinson will be the guest speaker at a special lecture held at Northumbria University's Performance Hub talking about her coaching journey and thesis, 'The Volunteer Coach'. Foundation of Light is committed to the expansion of Girls Football through its Premier League Girls Programme, Evening and Weekend sessions, Player Development Squads, Regional Talent Centre and Football Scholarship, engaging hundreds of women and girls each week. Players have been selected for England Women's junior sides, England Schools Football and made their debuts for Sunderland AFC Ladies and Newcastle United Women.