She Inspires programme scores big with Sports Initiative of the Year award
08.10.25 - Merseyside
Our She Inspires football programme has netted another win - scooping the title of Sports Initiative of the Year Award at the Manchester & Northwest England (Merseyside) Prestige Awards.
Funded by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable and run in partnership with Liverpool County FA (LCFA), LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community, She Inspires provides hundreds of vulnerable young girls across the city the chance to build on their social skills and learn more about the support networks available to them, all through the power of the beautiful game.
Last season, the programme supported 800 female year 8 and 9 pupils in 40 secondary schools across Liverpool, providing them with themed workshops focused on building self-confidence and teamwork.
The highlight of the programme was three mass engagement events at LCFA’s Sefton home. These saw pupils try out a range of football activities provided by Liverpool FA, LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community, as well as the opportunity to engage with community organisations, ranging from the emergency services, to mentoring organisations and support groups, where they learned about potential careers through a range of displays.
In addition to this, pupils were invited on trips to Goodison Park and Anfield, where they were given stadium tours and a chance to take part in activities.
Food was provided free of charge to all pupils, teachers and staff courtesy of Liverpool Rapid Relief Team.
The 2025-26 season will see the programme expand into primary schools, meaning the number of young girls involved will double to approximately 1,600 students.
She Inspires has previously been commended with a Community First Award by the Merseyside Police Chief Constable (2024), as well as a County FA Recognition Award by the Football Association (2023).
Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: "I'm thrilled to see the She Inspires programme recognised with The Prestige Award for Sports Initiative of the Year. This honour reflects the programme’s powerful impact in empowering young women across Merseyside through sport, leadership, and community engagement.
"I'd like to give a heartfelt thank you to all our partners whose support and collaboration have been vital to this success.
"I look forward to watching our She Inspires scheme, and the girls we are supporting, continue to go from strength to strength, because this initiative is showing them anything is possible."
Chief Constable Rob Carden, Merseyside Police said: "Together with our partners, we are incredibly proud to receive the Prestige Award for Sports Initiative of the Year in Manchester & Northwest England for our ‘She Inspires’ programme. This initiative is all about empowering young women through sport, building confidence, and creating safe spaces where they can thrive. It’s a testament to the hard work of our teams and partners who have helped make She Inspires a success across Merseyside.
"I would like to thank all our partner organisations including, LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community, Liverpool County FA, and the Police and Crime Commissioner, who funded the project alongside our previous Chief Constable. Their commitment and dedication have been vital in engaging more young girls and helping them to reach their full potential.
"Thank you also goes to the schools who have taken part and embraced the programme — your enthusiasm and commitment have been key to its success."
Liverpool FA Chief Executive, Anthony Smith, said: "We are incredibly proud that the She Inspires Programme has been recognised with the Sports Initiative of the Year at the Manchester & North West England Prestige Awards. This honour is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, and in particular to the young women who continue to embrace the opportunities the programme provides.
"In partnership with Merseyside Police, the LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community, Liverpool FA remains committed to supporting, developing and empowering young females across Merseyside. Through She Inspires, we aim to provide participants with essential life skills such as communication, leadership and self-confidence, alongside education and awareness around violence against women and girls, and the importance of building healthy relationships. These experiences are designed to equip young people with the tools they need to thrive both on and off the pitch.
"As we approach our fourth year, we are excited to see the programme grow further, expanding from secondary schools into primary schools, and creating even more opportunities for girls to thrive. We look forward to continuing this journey and ensuring that She Inspires remains a positive, empowering and lasting force for change in our community."
Karl Carney, Department Manager for Sport and Physical Activity at the LFC Foundation, said: "Through the outstanding work of the staff, key outcomes included a significant increase in pupil aspirations, resilience, confidence, self-esteem, teamwork and leadership.
"We are looking forward to working on another successful year of the She Inspires programme, which will be further enhanced and evolved as we head into the fourth year of delivery."
Ant Harden, Senior Manager – Youth and Support at Everton in the Community, said: "This latest recognition for the She Inspires programme is testament to the collaborative approach of each partner. She Inspires is living up to its name by providing females with further opportunities to grow and develop, whether it’s through sport, careers or simply on their own personal development journey, and it’s a journey we are very proud to support."