A new all-female football tournament has been launched in Merseyside to give young women more opportunities.
‘She Inspires’ is funded by Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, the Chief Constable and Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership.
The football tournament is also supported by Liverpool County FA, Liverpool FC Foundation and Everton in the Community.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: “I’m incredibly pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to the young women of Merseyside.
“Wherever we can, we want to open doors for these girls to expand their horizons in directions that they might not have thought possible.”
Through ‘She Inspires’ girls will not only get a chance to compete, but train and earn coaching qualifications through the Fowler Education Football Academy and Everton Community College.
Commissioner Emily Spurrell’s aim is to help girls living in crime ridden areas take part in a FA Referee Course and earn a FA Introduction to Coaching Football certification.
She said: “Our goal is not only to give them a fantastic sporting opportunity, but also to equip them with vital skills to help them in life, such as leadership, how to support their peers and work as a team.”
After the tournament’s launch on International Women’s Day, coaching is likely to begin in April, with the finals planned for July.
Details of the venues for training and matches are yet to be released.
