From inspiration to impact: Legacy for the Future one year on

Integrated Dreams helps people with disabilities, particularly women, build skills and access opportunities in the football industry.

The organisation used the Legacy for the Future funding to run pilot programmes in Lisbon and Porto, bringing together 33 disabled leaders and connecting them with stakeholders from across the sports industry.

Participants worked on real-world challenges relating to disability and sport, helping to develop solutions shaped by people with experience of a disability.

The programme is not just designed to increase participation, but also to empower disabled people to become active leaders in sport and influence how organisations approach accessibility and inclusion.

"It wasn't just practical work; it was the actual solving of a real problem."

Participant, Football for All workshop in Lisbon

The Rio Ferdinand Foundation used Legacy for the Future support to deliver its Go Girl programme across Greater Manchester, London, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The programme reached 86 girls aged between 12 and 18 who were among those least likely to participate in organised sport. Combining physical activity with well-being support, trusted relationships and leadership opportunities, it sought to create an environment where girls could take part without judgement or pressure.

The results were significant – 98% of participants reported increased confidence and self-esteem, 95% reported improved wellbeing and social connections, while every participant reported improved leadership skills and an increased likelihood of taking part in sport in the future.

"At first I was really nervous because I didn't play any sport and thought I'd get everything wrong. But every week I got more confident. I never thought I could be a leader, but now I feel proud of myself and what I can do."

Go Girl participant

Rosa Sko creates safe football spaces for girls from marginalised communities, while also developing pathways for young female coaches.

With support from Legacy for the Future, more than 500 girls from 26 schools in Oslo's Groruddalen district took part in the programme during 2025, culminating in the annual Rosa Sko Day. These girls were then given the opportunity to move into local sports clubs.

Around 200 Rosa Sko participants and leaders attended the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Oslo, with four girls taking part in the opening ceremony and one handing out medals during the closing ceremony.

"The best thing about Rosa Sko was doing activities together with girls from my school and other schools. I also discovered that football was actually really fun, even though I hadn't liked it that much before."

Mediah Butt, Rosa Sko participant

Kabubu uses sport to support migrants' social and professional growth through sport-based integration, childcare-inclusive activities and creating safer spaces.

The organisation used its Legacy for the Future funding to run the Win'Her programme, which uses inclusive sport to support exiled mothers and unaccompanied minor girls facing barriers such as social isolation and childcare responsibilities.

Between July 2025 and July 2026, the project reached 120 participants – 100 mothers and children, and 20 unaccompanied minor girls – through weekly activities delivered alongside trusted social organisations.

A total of 62 sports sessions were organised, including mother-and-child multisport activities, fitness sessions and swimming. The project has also engaged more than 35 organisations, trained eight Kabubu coaches in a new parent-child sports methodology and built partnerships to help more women and girls access sport in the future.

"Kabubu has given me a lot of courage and motivation to practise sports and I feel very, very good with you. I have found moral, physical and social support at Kabubu."

Win'Her participant

Across Poland, Trenuj Bycie Dobrym has used its football3 methodology – which structures a match into a pre-match discussion, the game itself and a post-match discussion – to make football a space for developing confidence, cooperation, fair play and equality.

Central to the programme has been connecting school communities with women's football. Before Women's EURO 2025, 200 girls attended Poland's match against Romania, while a further 40 children met Polish national team players this year.

The nationwide programme also trained 30 female primary school teachers representing all 16 regions of Poland to deliver football sessions, while 17 skills development workshops and 17 football tournaments reached 2,413 children – 1,135 girls and 1,278 boys. The presence of female players and coaches helped participants see that football is a space for everyone.

"For girls, these events show that football is their space too. They build courage and confidence, while challenging the stereotype that team sport is mainly for boys."

Karolina Chaberek, Trenuj Bycie Dobrym participant

In Wales, the legacy has taken a different form – investing directly in the places where women and girls play.

The Cymru Football Foundation launched its £1 million Environments for Her Fund in 2025, with support from Legacy for the Future, to improve dignity, accessibility, safety and inclusion at football facilities across the country.

Following Wales's historic qualification for Women's EURO 2025, the programme attracted 48 expressions of interest, with 22 projects ultimately awarded funding.

An all-female panel was established to make funding decisions, while evidence-based assessments and site inspections helped identify where investment could have the greatest impact.

For the clubs receiving support, that investment is already changing their facilities.

"The upgrades that we've been able to carry out for our changing rooms, showers and toilets have already significantly improved the club and will strengthen our ability to provide a safe and welcoming environment for both current and future club members."

Environments for Her Fund beneficiary

In Madrid and Andalusia, Fútbol Más has built on the momentum of Women's EURO 2025 through Más Que Campeonas, a programme created to guarantee young people in vulnerable communities the right to play and participate in sport.

The project combines sport with protection, gender equity, life skills and emotional wellbeing, while connecting girls with female role models and local clubs to support continued participation.

During 2025/26, Más Que Campeonas delivered 336 sport sessions to more than 300 young people, alongside 37 events and awareness-raising activities with families and clubs. Fifteen female role models were involved in the programme, while 97% of participants surveyed said they considered Más Que Campeonas a positive environment.

"Más Que Campeonas is my safe space."

Más Que Campeonas participant

In the host nation, the Swiss Academy for Development's Football for Life project has used the game as a tool for learning, inclusion and integration, particularly for children from migrant backgrounds.

Weekly football sessions were held at five schools during the 2025/26 season, reaching 92 children aged eight to 12, with girls making up 36.7% of participants. The children were also given experiences beyond the pitch, with excursions including museum visits and press conferences.

Alongside enthusiasm for football, coaches saw progress in children's physical skills, confidence in using German, understanding of fair play and willingness to support one another.

"My team spirit has improved; if someone gets injured, I comfort them. Even if you're not the captain, you can still help."

Football for Life participant

KLABU, which connects refugees and locals in Amsterdam through sport, used Legacy for the Future funding to create more opportunities for women in the city by focusing on confidence, safety and independence.

Working with local charity Wereldhuis, the organisation launched a ten-week cycling course for undocumented women and mothers. Originally planned for five participants, nine women ended up completing the course.

Participants reported greater independence, confidence and social connection, and the success of the programme has already led to a second course being organised.

KLABU also carried out outreach in shelters across Amsterdam, introducing 114 new women to its activities.

"It actually means freedom. That's the word I'm going to use, because I'm now free to access anywhere that is easy for me to access without having to pay money to go."

Cycling course participant

En Frisk Generation's Systrar i project creates welcoming spaces where girls and young women can be physically active, build confidence and develop a sense of belonging without a focus on performance or competition.

Across Järva, Fisksätra and Rosengård, the project reached 129 participants aged eight to 25, exceeding its initial target of 100. Around 230 activity sessions were delivered, generating more than 2,700 attendances.

A key part of the programme is creating mentorship and leadership opportunities for girls to support and inspire one another.

"I came to the girls' group to find my place. Today, I get to help other girls find theirs."

Hadise, former Systrar i participant and now youth leader

Girl Power works with young women from refugee, immigrant and marginalised communities, using football as a route into leadership, education and greater participation in sport.

Through its Leadership Academy, 25 young women took part in workshops focused on leadership and life skills, alongside football activities and one-to-one mentoring to help them identify their next steps in the game.

The programme has already created clear pathways into football. Fifteen participants are now working towards their first coaching licence, while 16 are regularly playing at a football club.

Girl Power has also built partnerships with clubs, federations and schools to deliver football festivals, giving participants opportunities to put their new skills into practice and take their first steps as coaches.

"I soon realised that Girl Power was about much more than football. It was about building confidence, developing leadership skills, supporting one another, and learning how we can make a positive impact in our communities."

Fatemah Ahmadi, Girl Power participant

Her Team, Her Future set out to understand why the pathway into organised football can be more difficult for some girls, particularly those from multicultural backgrounds.

The project found that the biggest challenge is not necessarily introducing girls to football, but helping them take the next step into a club and stay there. Through interviews and co-creation, girls highlighted barriers including practical access and information, unfamiliar club environments, confidence and belonging, and family understanding and support.

Those findings were then used to develop practical responses. One of the key outcomes is Football Sister, a peer-support concept designed to make the first steps into a football club feel easier and more welcoming. The Football Association of Finland is now taking the concept forward for testing and further development.

The project’s learning has also been turned into three Pathway into Club Football modules on the Finnish FA’s e-Academy, making the findings, girls’ experiences and practical approaches available to clubs across the country. The platform also supports AI-assisted translation into multiple languages, helping make the information more accessible to girls and their families.

Together with the Football Association’s club development network, this gives the project the potential to influence everyday practice well beyond those directly involved.

“When we listen to girls, we don’t just learn how to help more of them find their way into football. We learn how to make football better.”

Mariet Louhento, Co-founder, Louhento Foundation and Project Lead, Her Team, Her Future

Safe-Hub Berlin used the momentum of Women's EURO 2025 to make girls' and women's football more visible in the local community, while strengthening the support available to girls participating in the game.

The organisation hosted public screenings of ten Women's EURO matches, attracting up to 60 spectators on peak days, while its GIRLS HUB Festival brought together around 150 children, 80 adults and eight local partner organisations.

Alongside these larger events, weekly GIRLS HUB sessions continued to give girls the opportunity to play football, build confidence and connect with one another.

Safe-Hub Berlin also focused on creating long-term change behind the scenes. A Gender Action Plan was developed to guide its future work, while staff completed training on child protection, professional boundaries and gender sensitivity to strengthen the organisation's approach to inclusion and safeguarding.

"What's special about coaching in GIRLS HUB is seeing the girls grow far beyond football. At the start, many are almost embarrassed to say they play football at all – but at moments like the public screenings or the festival, you can literally see their pride kick in."

Nour, GIRLS HUB coach, Safe-Hub Berlin

Bergið headspace, in partnership with the Football Association of Iceland (KSÍ), used football as a platform to support the mental wellbeing of girls aged 14 to 18.

Through its Tackle Emotions initiative, the project aimed to improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma and make it easier for young players to seek support. Interactive workshops created safe spaces for girls to talk openly about emotional wellbeing, while individual counselling was available for those wanting further help.

Five workshops reached 218 participants across Iceland, including through remote sessions designed to ensure girls in rural communities could also take part.

By working alongside coaches and clubs, the project showed how football can support early intervention, helping young people recognise when they need support, build resilience and feel more confident asking for help.

"Football brings young people together, but creating an environment where they also feel safe to talk about their mental health is just as important."

Rut Sigurdardottir, clinical director, Bergið headspace Iceland

In Turin, Balon Mondial used football and sport to promote social inclusion, gender equality and stronger community connections through its WE Rise Up project.

During 2025/26, more than 400 participants from over 40 nationalities took part in activities. Through its Football3 school programme, the organisation reached 274 students across three schools and 13 classes, delivering 51 sessions, with girls making up almost half of participants.

The project also created opportunities beyond schools. More than 150 women and non-binary participants took part in the Women Cup, while the final community event attracted around 800 athletes, families, volunteers and local residents.

Elsewhere, the Donne in Movimento gave more than 48 women aged 35 and over a safe space to exercise and connect with others, with childcare support helping mothers to take part.

"Seeing the national team up close made them realise that there are many different paths they can take in the game. What matters is that they can see those possibilities for themselves and feel free to choose their own path, just like anyone else."

L., Balon Mondial coach