This week’s Friday Feature highlights Hackney Laces, a community-run football club and social enterprise creating opportunities for girls and women to play, build confidence and feel a sense of belonging.
Founded in East London, Hackney Laces was created in response to the lack of spaces for teenage girls to access football. Today, it has grown into a network of clubs supporting hundreds of players, using sport as a catalyst for empowerment through mentoring, personal development and community.
With support from the Kerslake Robshaw Foundation, Hackney Laces delivers its Off the Pitch programme, supporting girls aged 13–17 at a critical stage where many young people, particularly girls, drop out of sport.
Alongside football training, participants receive one-to-one mentoring, creating a safe space to talk about school, relationships and future aspirations. Through consistent guidance and support, young people build confidence, develop leadership skills and stay engaged both in sport and education.
By combining football with personal support, the programme helps ensure girls not only remain in the game but feel equipped to navigate an important stage in their lives.
Shannon Carter, Head of Player Development, shares:
“Through this programme, I’ve watched the girls build confidence, friendships and a real sense of belonging. Hackney Laces has become a space where they feel seen, supported and proud of who they are.”
At the Kerslake Robshaw Foundation, we’re proud to support organisations like Hackney Laces that create inclusive environments where young people can build confidence, connection and a sense of belonging.
