Barclays Community Sport Fund £1000 Access Grant

Earlier this year, Athena Glasgow Women and Girls Academy was awarded a £1,000 Access Grant from the Barclays Community Sport Fund. The funding came at a crucial time, as we continue to grow our football programmes for women and girls in Springburn, one of Scotland’s most deprived communities.

The grant allowed us to remove financial barriers for participants by covering pitch hire costs, training equipment, and subsidising travel for girls who might otherwise struggle to attend sessions. This meant we could keep our activities free or very low cost, ensuring that no one was excluded because of money.

Thanks to this support, we welcomed new players from across our community, including girls from racially diverse backgrounds, those living in single-parent families, and young people who had never played organised sport before.

The funding also helped us expand volunteering opportunities, with two new female coaches starting their journey with Athena — showing our players that football can be a lifelong pathway, not just a game.

This £1,000 investment from Barclays has had a huge impact, helping us reach more underrepresented girls, keep sessions inclusive, and strengthen the culture of opportunity and belonging at Athena Glasgow.