Community engagement isn't just a buzzword. It's the foundation of a sports club that lasts. Too often, clubs treat engagement as a one-off survey before a funding bid, a consultation exercise, or a social media post. But meaningful engagement is something deeper. It's about building relationships, earning trust, and creating genuine shared ownership of your club's direction. Done well, it transforms a club from being just a place where people play sport into a genuine commun

The Football Foundation has launched the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund, offering grants of up to £25,000 to help sports clubs create facilities that are safer, more inclusive, and more welcoming for women and girls.