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.
Here’s how we’re changing the game for good:
Growing the girls’ and women’s football community
We’ve given out more than 5,000 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.
Championing the team as the official principal partner
Why Southampton FC Women?
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.”
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!
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!