Helen Macklam

I took over managing and coaching my daughter's team at my local club at a point when it would have otherwise folded. The team are now U14s and well into their 8th season playing competitive football.
As I approached 50 I decided that the one thing I wanted to do was play football myself - something I've never been able to do due to gender stereotypes in my schooling and adult life.
I approached my local FA (Durham) and set up Just Play sessions in Hartlepool which was a first for the town. This attracted over 100 ladies in the first 6 months and from that we played a number of tournaments before creating the first Ladies Recreational team in the town. As well as coaching and managing this, I also play competitively at the age of 52. As a team we are into our second competitive league season.
Because of the above I was lucky to be nominated by my team for an award with the FA and was fortunate to be given the runner up trophy for Coach of the Year - Female Pathway last September.
Most recently I have been successful in gaining funding from the FA to set up Ladies over 35, walking football which is again a first in Hartlepool. These sessions are due to commence next month and I have already had lots of interest. The sessions hope to encourage ladies of all ages and abilities to do something a little different. I am targeting ladies from many different background and cultures including, but not limited to, LGBTQIA+, minorities and disability groups. The intention is to improve physical and mental well-being as well as balance and flexibility through a non-competitive, low impact sport. I also aim to use our club facilities during and after these sessions as a hub to encourage interaction beyond the football pitch.
Further to this, last October I attended The Greater Game Conference at St George's Park. This programme is aimed at 12-16 year olds and uses the power of football to improve the health and well-being of young people across the country. I have been successful in a bid for my club Hartlepool Pools Youth FC to become a Flagship Club for this season and next and will begin to roll out this project imminently. There have only been 14 clubs across England who have been successful in this bid previously and I look forward to implementing this and making a difference.