Five more football clubs are to join the innovative ‘Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered’ programme.
Leyton Orient Trust, The Albion Foundation (West Bromwich Albion), Foundation of Light (Sunderland AFC), Middlesbrough FC Foundation and Stoke City Community Trust will join Fulham FC Foundation, who were part of the project’s inaugural pilot year.
In total, six clubs will deliver the scheme for the next two years, supported by Sport England’s Families Fund through National Lottery funding.
FOUNDATIONS
Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered – also known as ‘DAD’ – is a programme that was originally designed by the University of Newcastle in Australia, and was introduced to the UK last year by the Fatherhood Institute in partnership with Women in Sport and the English Football League Trust.
The 90-minute programme is delivered once a week and encourages fathers or father-figures to support their daughters' physical confidence and competence, whilst challenge gender stereotyping. It aims to gets girls aged five to 11 involved in shaping how their families get active together.
Eleven families took part in the project’s inaugural year. Lee Warren, Innovation Manager for the DAD Project, said: “We’re delighted to have five new clubs involved in this project for the next two years alongside continuing our partnership with Fulham who have built strong foundations.
“We’ve already started to see the impact that the Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered programme can have on its participants and the long-term lifestyle changes that it can deliver. We’re looking forward to seeing these clubs support more families in their local communities to get active.”
Mike Diaper, Executive Director Children, Young People and Tackling Inactivity, at Sport England said: “Following a successful first year of testing the Daughters and Dads programme, we are really pleased that our National Lottery investment can now help to extend its reach into new areas across England.
“We know that we need to continue to do more to help girls and less affluent families get active, and one thing that hinders this are gender stereotypes that can cause families to believe that physical activity is less important for girls than boys.
EMPOWERING
“We also know that parents and carers often see their role as helpers and less as role models in encouraging their children to be active. This programme, based on a model from Australia, is addressing these challenges and we look forward to seeing the results of this in the North East, West Midlands and London.”
Mike Evans, Director of Operations, EFL Trust added: “The EFL Trust are delighted that our Club Community Organisations are involved in this project, empowering young girls to be more confident and to begin to take the lead in encouraging their families to have a more active lifestyle. We are proud to have the opportunity to enable daughters and their fathers to spend more time together whilst developing positive and life-changing habits.”
To find out more about Women in Sport, visit its page on the ConnectSport directory. To add your organisation for free, contact hello@connectsport.co.uk.
