Ref:PRHSP007                                                                                           Date: 6th February 2023

Mums’ football team scores funding boost from Homes Plus

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Stafford Soccer Mums FC is celebrating a funding goal, with support from leading social landlord, Homes Plus.

The Homes Plus My Community Fund supports grass roots organisations in Staffordshire and Shropshire. A grant of £500 from the fund will be used to provide new kit and equipment for the women's football club, which brings together enthusiastic players of all ages.

Homes Plus director of housing, Samantha Allcott, said: "We set out to make a positive difference to homes, lives and communities. One of the ways that we do that is by backing fantastic projects run by voluntary groups and organisations, in the areas where we work. We were pleased to help Stafford Soccer Mums FC, which is doing so much to support the health and wellbeing of women, many of whom are playing football for the first time."

Stafford Soccer Mums FC was established in 2016, after parents taking their children for coaching were themselves inspired to take up football. Now the club, based at Stafford Town's Evans Park Ground, operates four teams and has around 50 players aged between 22 and 59. It has experienced an influx of players encouraged by the success of the England women's national team.

Team manager Will Conaghan said: "The club is about more than playing football. It is helping women get fit as well as improving their mental health, connecting with people and gaining confidence. Some of the members say that it has become their lifeline. We are incredibly grateful for the grant from the Homes Plus My Community Fund, which will help the club continue to grow."

Many of the mums did not have the playing opportunities available to their own daughters. One woman remembers taking part in a sit-down protest after being told that she could not play football at school and another player explained: "This is something a schoolgirl of the 1970s could only dream about. We watched the boys play football, but it was never an option for us."

Samantha Allcott added: "I was delighted to be able to meet some of the players and to learn how football is allowing them to train and succeed as part of a team. For these women football is bringing lasting benefits and we wanted to lend our support."

Local charities and voluntary groups can apply for funding from the Homes PlusMyCommunity fund online:https://housingplusgroup.co.uk/sponsorship.

Caption:

Homes Plus director of housing, Smantha Allcott and team manager Will Conaghan (back row, with football) are pictured with Stafford Soccer Mums FC players, celebrating sponsorship from Homes Plus.
 

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Background for editors

Homes Plus is a social landlord which owns more than 19,000 homes in Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Registered as a Charitable Community Benefit Society, Homes Plus is a Housing Plus Group company. The Group is a leading provider of quality, affordable homes and care services that customers can trust. Member companies also include Care Plus, Property Plus and Severn Homes.

With a vision to be a resilient organisation, making a positive difference to homes, lives and communities, Housing Plus Group employs around 1,000 people in Staffordshire and Shropshire. The growing Group is addressing the housing crisis locally, by building new homes for rent, shared ownership and outright sale. It has committed to delivering one-third more hours of care and support for older people in their own homes and to creating new apprenticeship opportunities in the Group and its supply chain.

Housing Plus Group is inspired by the CLARITY values which are the foundations of its work: Communication, Learning, Accountable, Respectful, Inclusive, Trust and You.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) requires that all registered providers confirm compliance with the Regulatory Framework, Governance and Financial Viability Standard. Housing Plus Group complies with this standard, holding the RSH highest rating for governance and viability: G1 and V1. Please visit www.gov.uk to find out more.

www.homesplus.co.uk

Further information

Mara Hargreaves
Head of marketing and communications 
Mobile (p): 07967 967 466
e:mara.hargreaves@housingplusgroup.co.uk

Clare Chick 
Marketing and communications officer
Mobile (p): 07950 254 279 
e:clare.chick@housingplusgroup.co.uk  

Martin Farrow
CHANGEWORKS Communications
t: + 44 (0) 1785 247588
m: +44 (0)7771 970025
e: mfarrow@changeworkscom.co.uk