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Scottish Women’s Football and Walking Football Scotland have announced a new collaboration to encourage more women to stay active and involved in football into later life, including a new £5,000 fund to help clubs establish new women’s Walking Football groups.
With many women’s teams already developing recreational and walking football initiatives, the agreement will see SWF help promote women’s Walking Football events and SWF chair Vivienne Maclaren joins the board of Trustees at the charity.
The announcement marks the commitment of both organisations to the theme of this year’s annual Women and Girls in Sport Week: ‘Celebrating being active’.
Commenting, Vivienne Maclaren said: “Walking Football can be an amazing experience for women, empowering them to get active and meet new people, and I know there are women taking part in Walking Football Scotland festivals and competitions from Annan to Aberdeen. I spotted quite a few players who have retired from SWF teams involved when I attended the Cup finals in June, so I know it can get competitive too.
“Scottish Women’s Football are proud to mark Women and Girls in Sport Week by committing to support WFS’s endeavours going forward, and I am delighted to accept the position on the Board of Trustees.”
WFS Trustee Matt Ramsay said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Scottish Women’s Football to help grow and support the women’s game here in Scotland.
“Walking Football Scotland is fully committed to creating a clear pathway for women to stay in the game, ensuring they can keep playing at every stage of life. Just as importantly, this partnership is about raising participation levels across the country and encouraging more women to get involved, so they can reap the many physical, social and mental health benefits of walking football.
“To back this commitment, we have ringfenced £5,000 to launch a new funding opportunity, offering up to £500 to help new women’s groups get started, and we look forward to sharing details on how clubs can apply in due course. Walking Football Scotland is proud to play our part in helping the women’s game thrive and inspire future generations.”
Image shows Vivienne MacLaren and Matt Ramsay at Hampden to launch the initiative, joined by SWF CEO Aileen Campbell, Women’s Football legend and Walking Football Scotland Patron Rose Reilly, WFS Trustee Linsey Paton-Donaldson and Walking Football players from Giffnock SC and Rangers FFIT
