Kadra (right) looks on as David Beckham presents England's 2018 World Cup bid

 

Brent Ladies' founder Kadra Ege has worked closely with Kick It Out since the club's inception. She recently travelled to Zurich as part of England's 2018 World Cup bid team.

We recently caught up with her to find out more about her work.

Who are Brent Ladies Football Club?
Brent Ladies Football Club (BLFC) is a community based youth organisation using sports and education to engage young people and support them in developing projects which benefit the community. We are also a Charter Standard Football Club.
The over-arching aim of BLFC is fundamentally to raise awareness of issues facing youth today including inequality, discrimination and crime; and to empower and encourage positive change in their lives.
The club is ran by a group of young volunteers.
What made you want to start a football club?
After I graduated from University with a BA in Tourism & Leisure studies with marketing management I worked for the local authority, Brent Council, as an Information Advice and Guidance Officer. Soon after I founded Brent Ladies Football Club (BLFC) to address the deprivation and lack of activities for the young girls and women in the community.
So how does the club connect with young people?
We provide football activities for young females, organise football tournaments for the whole community, including boys - like kick racism out of football festivals - and provide coaching schemes for young people to become qualified sports coaches, referees.
Our volunteers act as role models for the young people, offering mentoring, support through fundraising activities, and deliver presentations to promote the services we offer such as educational talks around nutrition and health.
How have Kick It Out helped you?
In October 2005 we contacted Kick it Out and agreed to support our project.
We've since gone on to develop a close relationship with the campaign and have hosted annual Anti-Racism Football Tournaments, played in the BBC Your Game initiative where we finished as runners-up in the final at Newcastle United stadium - St. James's Park and last year we took part in the 'One Game, One Community Cup' during the Week of Action.
Kick It Out have also helped us raise concerns such as the global ban on wearing the Islamic head scarf, the Hijab. We did this when Brent Ladies representatives were invited to attend the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) conference.
This has gave us the opportunity to explain that the recent prohibition of the Hijab has created barriers to the participation of Muslim women at our club, we were able to express our feelings to senior figures in the game.
In five years time where do you see Brent Ladies FC?
At our club we believe that football, as the world's most popular game, can help to bring people together from different backgrounds to play, watch and enjoy the game, and to break down barriers created by ignorance or prejudice.
 
I want to give kids an opportunity to achieve, not only in football, but in education, employment, and and other areas.
Our club is about inclusion and we feel that even though there are lines on the football field, there are no boundaries in terms of what we can take from football and go on to achieve in life.
We expect our programmes and activities not only to help to develop key life skills, but also motivate, raise self-esteem and help to facilitate character development in young people across the community.