In an inspiring event at Chadwell Heath, the home of the West Ham United Academy and women’s team, young students from The Bromfords School and Jo Richardson Community School showcased their passion and commitment to social change.
Thanks to the collaboration between the West Ham United Foundation and Premier League Inspires, students have spent the last few months working on impactful social-action projects centred around the theme of gender equality.
Over the past weeks, the West Ham Foundation team guided students through the process of creating meaningful initiatives aimed at addressing gender disparities. The initiative empowered young minds to analyse societal challenges and develop innovative solutions that promote inclusivity in sports and beyond.
Three student groups took centre stage to present their ideas before an esteemed panel - including two Academy players, West Ham United Football Club's Head of Safeguarding and Foundation Trustee Jackie Ferdinand, and Academy Manager Kenny Brown.
The presentations reflected the students’ dedication, creativity and desire to foster a more equal future.
Following careful deliberations, one standout group was selected to represent the West Ham United Foundation at the National Premier League Inspires Challenge event, where they will showcase their project on a larger stage.
The event also featured a guest talk by Nicole Farley, a trailblazer in football as the first-ever female coach to be part of West Ham United’s coaching staff.
Farley shared her inspiring journey in football, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs she experienced while breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Her words resonated deeply with the students, offering motivation and insight into the importance of perseverance and self-belief.
Farley said: “Everyone has qualities they can give and everyone has value. In most of the football clubs I worked for, I was the only female in the room, but I learned to embrace that and I would be acknowledged for the positive work I was doing.
“Football is a predominantly male-dominated sport, so it’s important to stand out. But it’s about changing the narrative and continuing to break down those barriers.”
Adding to the students’ experience, West Ham United women’s team players Soraya Walsh and Emma Harries participated in a Q&A session, sharing their experiences as professional footballers and advocating for greater female representation in the sport. Their candid discussions highlighted both the progress made in women’s football and the challenges that still need to be addressed.
Harries said: “When I was at school, we didn’t have a girls’ team, so we had to play with the boys. There’s been a huge development across women’s football, and I think it’s great to see the positive change we’ve had over the last few years.”
The Premier League Inspires challenge provides young people with a platform to develop key life skills such as teamwork, leadership and problem solving while addressing important social issues.
The programme integrates the #iwill campaign’s six principles of high-quality social action: youth-led projects, impactful initiatives, progressive solutions, embedded inclusivity, reflective learning and social collaboration.
The selected student group from West Ham United Foundation will now take their project to the National Premier League Inspires Challenge event, where they will compete with teams from other clubs.
Their project, a testament to the power of youth-driven advocacy, aims to leave a lasting impact on their community and inspire further action towards gender equality in sports.
With the unwavering support of West Ham United Foundation, Premier League Inspires and dedicated role models - like Nicole Farley, Soraya Walsh and Emma Harries - these young changemakers are well on their way to shaping a fairer and more inclusive sporting world.
