Sport key to unlocking potential
A women-only sports initiative in Nottingham is delivering powerful, measurable change for young people.
The Sport Her Project, delivered by Nottingham Muslim Women’s Network, and funded through the Violence Reduction Partnership, uses football as a gateway to wider personal development.
It helps to build confidence, resilience and stronger relationships while reducing school exclusions and engagement with statutory services.
Weekly sessions take place at Notts County’s Meadow Lane stadium, giving participants the opportunity to engage in physical activity in a professional sporting environment while feeling safe, supported and empowered.
Alongside the football sessions, participants aged 13-24 take part in workshops focused on emotional wellbeing, career aspirations and challenging harmful cultural practices.
All activities are delivered in women-only spaces and are co-designed with the young people themselves, ensuring the programme remains relevant, inclusive and engaging.
The work has been made possible through funding from the Violence Reduction Partnership’s Sports Plus grants, which support community-led initiatives that address the root causes of violence through early intervention and prevention.
The VRP is a Home Office funded initiative dedicated to reducing serious violence across Nottinghamshire by taking a public health approach. The VRP brings together police, local authorities and community organisations to deliver long-term, sustainable solutions.
Gary Godden, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of the VRP, said: “The project demonstrates how targeted, community-based interventions can play a crucial role in preventing harm and supporting young people to thrive.
“By combining sport, education and wellbeing support, the Sport Her Project is proving that safe, inclusive spaces can change trajectories - helping young women build brighter, safer futures for themselves and their communities.
“What is particularly encouraging is the clear evidence of impact - from improved wellbeing and confidence to fewer exclusions - showing that early, preventative work like this delivers real benefits.”
The impact of the project is already being felt across participants’ everyday lives. Young people involved have shown increased confidence and resilience, improved relationships with peers and family members, and a growing sense of trust in schools and wider support systems.
Schools working closely with the programme have reported reductions in exclusions, alongside sustained improvements in attendance and behaviour.
Participants have also completed the nationally recognised Signs of Safety tool, with measurable improvements recorded in their scores, reflecting positive changes in wellbeing and personal safety.
Asia Asghar, Active Wellbeing Outreach Worker and Community Campaign Officer at Nottingham Muslim Women’s Network, said: “This is an amazing project which has had a major impact within our organisation and our community.
“It gives us the infrastructure to look at the core problems that young Muslim women face in society today, and work out how to tackle them together.
“We deliberately chose the facilities at Meadow Lane because we wanted the girls to experience something new, because many of them had never stepped foot into a football stadium before.
“Now we have a safe space for the girls to express themselves, and we have seen a great impact on many of them.”