Starling Bank and Jill Scott launch ‘Kick On’

Starling Bank have partnered with former Lioness Jill Scott MBE to launch a new initiative aimed at tackling the national shortage of female football coaches.

The move follows new research from the bank, which revealed that 90% of grassroots coaches and 85% of female players believe there is a national shortage of female coaches. The survey of more than 3,000 coaches and players also found that 89% of female players want more female coaches at their club or school, with three-quarters (76%) saying a female coach positively impacted their decision to join their team.

In response, the ‘Kick On’ initiative will offer free kit, coaching vouchers, and equipment to over 300 clubs. The scheme will also provide access to a specialised coaching platform, Sport Session Planner, to support new and existing coaches.

Starling Bank was a winner at the 2024 Sport Industry Awards for its previous work in women’s football.

Jill Scott MBE, former Lioness and current Starling Bank ambassador, said, “Having the right coach is so important to the success of any sports team, but their impact on young female players in particular is something that shouldn’t be underestimated.

Right now, there’s a shortage of female coaches across the UK, which means many girls miss out on seeing role models who could inspire them to stay in the game or even dream of a career in sport. With the Kick On initiative, we want to change that and help nurture the next generation of Sarina Wiegmans who can lead teams to success, both on and off the pitch.”

Ellie Cross, women’s football advocate at Starling, said, “Since launching the first Kick On campaign in 2023, we’ve highlighted a range of issues in the women’s game, from unequal pitch access to the drop in participation during girls’ adolescent years. Now, we’re aiming to help more women take the first step towards becoming a coach, so that they can help more girls enjoy football and boost this country’s pipeline of sporting talent.”