Changing the Game for Good
Changing the Game for Good
Championing the women’s game – from glory to grassroots.
As the only bank in the UK founded by a woman, equality is in our DNA.
We’re on a mission to give women and girls more access to football. Helping with confidence, life skills and a sense of community – what starts on the pitch ripples into social change.
April 2023 – Present
Kick On
Growing the girls’ and women’s football community
We’ve given out more than 10,000 free kits to girls’ and women’s grassroots players across the UK. And we’re not stopping there.
A women’s club that needs a step up? A men’s club that wants to start a girls’ team? A group of school friends who are new to football? Let’s Kick On together.
We’ve teamed up with Gift of Kit to give clubs and schools the chance to apply for free Starling branded kit, equipment and FA-affiliated coaching vouchers.
Free kit is one thing – but what if you can’t even get on a pitch?
Our research shows 56% of women footballers have been kicked off a pitch by a men’s team. That’s why we created the Pitch Pack – it’s full of free resources, guides and template letters to help you get the pitch access you deserve.
Find out more
Impact so far
10,000+ grassroots girls supported with free kit and resources
627 teams helped across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
140 new coaches to grow the game
Kick On with Beth Mead and Jill Scott
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October 2022 - Present
Southampton FC Women
Championing the team as the official principal partner
Why Southampton FC Women?
It’s a Starling base! In 2019 we opened our office in Southampton – and we’re continuing to grow our team there.
All women’s home games are scheduled to be played at St Mary’s – the same stadium as the men’s. The women also have access to the same changing and training facilities. Only a limited number of Women’s Super League clubs offer this.
In May 2022, the club’s women’s programme turned professional for the upcoming season, which means the whole team trains full-time.
Impact so far
25 men and women in Hampshire completed the Starling Bank Scout School programme
45 women in Hampshire completed the Coaches of Tomorrow programme
170 girls took part in an academy training experience at SFC’s ground
August 2022
SportsAid Athlete Awards
Supporting girls before the main stage
In partnership with SportsAid, we have awarded £1,000 each to five young footballers – all girls aged 18 and under. These grants went towards travel costs, coaching, gym sessions – and even new football boots!
One of the rewarded players, Maddy Earl, 15, explains what the game means to her: “Football has become a way to express myself. It gives me an opportunity to learn and everything I learn is beneficial, not just in football but in life.”
August 2022
Starling Bank Club Programme Grant
From glory to grassroots
Currently, only 63% of schools offer girls the chance to play football as much as the boys in P.E (article from July 2022). To tackle this, we supported 23 clubs across England with £1,000 grants to help them grow their women and girls community.
What did they do with the money? All kinds of things – from facilities and kit, to marketing and advertising, volunteer management and coaching. One club even used the money to recruit a new Head of Women and Girls Football!
July 2022
UEFA Women’s EURO 2022
It’s Our Time to change the game
As a national sponsor of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, the #OurTime campaign celebrated and championed women’s football. Our ambassadors included Lauren Hemp, Jill Scott MBE and Rachel Yankey MBE. An up-and-coming star, a footballer with 150 caps, and the first professional female player to be registered in England.
The UK’s First Fantasy Football for the UEFA Women’s EURO
There were hundreds of Fantasy Football games for men’s tournaments, but not enough for women. So we built the UK’s First Fantasy Football for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022!
