Support This Girl's Ability

Aim

This Girl's Ability CIC is a non-profit organisation providing sports and creative opportunities for disabled girls and young women.

Our Organisation

The concept for This Girl’s Ability journey began in Spring 2022 when Nikki Fairbairn, Zoe Fairbairn, and Georgie Hart recognised through their work within a local charity that disabled girls were less likely to participate in sports and leisure activities.  We set up a girl’s club within the charity, which very quickly grew in numbers. 

In just five months, we have offered our members a myriad of opportunities which included:

• a club night
• trips to theatre, local women’s super league match and an Uber boat to central London
• block of football sessions during the school holidays
• performance opportunities with a local community band
• historical scrapbooking project sharing childhood memories, their interests, and aspirations for the future.
• pop culture club that includes fashion, books, movies, music.

Fast forward to September 2022, and with our new non-profit community company, This Girl’s Ability is formed, and we seek to continue our vision to benefit disabled girls and young women in neighbouring areas. We couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved in a short period as we reflect on the skills gained, increased confidence, new meaningful friendships formed, and decreased isolation through greater connections in the community. 

Disabled people were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 with low activity levels, and with the rising pressures of the cost of living, our project matters now more than ever.

The project you are funding aims to:

• Provide weekly sessions and activities in the school holidays.
• Deliver sporting opportunities to girls and women, known not to partake in physically active hobbies. We are creating connections with local sports organisations and professional clubs to create This Girl's Ability F.C. and This Girl's Ability cricket team.
• Create a network of support systems to assist in the prevention and management of poor mental illnesses. 
• Provide a platform to empower and speak on local issues of concern. 
• Create regular group interaction between members to assist in tackling loneliness. 
• Provide volunteering opportunities to help members grow in confidence and learn new skills whilst gaining employability skills e.g., qualifications/apprenticeships. 
• Seek opportunities to learn essential skills for career development and increase knowledge to share with family members, friends, and school friends through workshops, e.g., first aid, healthy eating, mental health, life skills, well-being. 
• Create sustainable projects by making the most of our current connections and creating new collaborative links with national governing bodies, sports clubs, local businesses and community groups.

How will we spend the money:

• Venue Hire: e.g., 3G Pitch, community hall, sports hall, grass pitch.
• Instructors/Coaches/Trainers with appropriate coaching awards/skills
• Volunteer expenses.
• Equipment including specialist items to create inclusive sessions, e.g., a ball with a bell for the visually impaired, sensory balls, a wheelchair basketball hoop
• Marketing and communication - flyers to distribute to schools with SEN departments and at community events
• Kit - boost morale, feel part of the group and be identifiable as belonging to a club.
• Training and Qualifications 
• Insurance

This Girl's Ability in the community:

By supporting this campaign, your donation will help This Girl’s Ability provide opportunities for disabled girls and young women in the London Borough of Havering and Essex. Through sports and leisure activities, life and social development skills workshops and volunteering opportunities, we aim to empower members, encourage meaningful friendships, and enhance physical and mental well-being. 

We have big dreams for our future, and by donating, you will be part of our journey and help us hit the ground running! 

Thank you!

#ThisGirlsAbility

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made