West Bromwich girls’ netball group lands £45,000 funding boost

A West Bromwich girls’ netball organisation has received more than £45,000 in National Lottery funding to expand its work supporting young women.

AnyGirl Netball, which runs sessions at West Bromwich Leisure Centre and Tipton Sports Academy, uses sport to help girls develop confidence, leadership skills and positive mental wellbeing.

The not-for-profit organisation was founded by Daisey Cotterill, who has more than 15 years’ experience playing and coaching netball, including helping her school team finish fifth in the country at the national school finals.

She said the camaraderie and support she experienced through playing netball inspired her to create an organisation that could offer similar benefits to girls in her community.

AnyGirl initially aimed to remove barriers preventing girls from disadvantaged communities from taking part in sport, but has since expanded its work to include mentoring, emotional support, volunteering and employment opportunities.

Daisey said netball provided a natural environment where young people could build relationships and talk about issues affecting them.

“I think netball works perfectly in terms of personal development, as it creates a natural, informal environment where girls can build relationships without feeling like they’re attending a formal support service,” she said.

The £45,000-plus grant from The National Lottery Community Fund will allow AnyGirl to introduce additional sessions and holiday camps.

It will also support the Beyond the Court programme, which focuses on self-worth and positive mental wellbeing, and the L.E.A.D.S pathway, which gives young people opportunities to gain professionally accredited qualifications, take part in courses and attend workshops in partnership with Coaches Club CIC.

The organisation also provides opportunities for girls to discuss issues including personal safety, unhealthy relationships, peer pressure and sexual harassment.

Daisey said: “Safety is an important part of AnyGirl’s work, particularly as girls get older and begin navigating experiences that can come with growing into young women.

“Through our mentoring, safeguarding and development sessions, we create safe spaces where girls can talk openly about these issues, understand boundaries, recognise behaviours that aren’t acceptable and know where to go for support.”

Neveah, 15, who plays netball with AnyGirl, said the organisation had helped her become more confident socially.

“I feel like I’m part of a community now, a close family where I can be myself,” she said.

Zahra, 19, said being part of AnyGirl had given her “so much more confidence” when meeting new people and working as part of a team.

Derval O’Brien, head of region for the East and West Midlands at The National Lottery Community Fund, said the organisation provided girls and young women with a “safe and encouraging space”.

Over the last three years, the fund has awarded more than £194 million to community projects across the West Midlands.

Daisey said the funding would help AnyGirl continue using netball “as a vehicle for much bigger change”, supporting girls with their education, relationships, confidence and future lives.