Cathkin Blazes Community Football Club co-founder. Created and led trauma-informed outreach sessions for survivors in 2023
Challenges
Football is Scotland’s national game, yet women, non-binary, and trans people still face barriers to taking part. Facilities are limited and opportunities are scarce, and many adults face socio-cultural barriers to taking part, these range from discrimination, such as harmful experiences of sexism and homophobia or transphobia in sport, to health and wellbeing barriers caused by periods, pregnancy, menopause and gender-affirming care,
As adults, affordable and welcoming options remain rare. Gyms are expensive, running doesn’t feel safe for everyone, and there were no beginner-friendly or casual football groups to join.
The challenge was to create a space where people could try football in a fun and supportive way, while connecting with others and building a sense of community.
Process
My role as a postcode co-ordinator for Glasgow Mutual Aid (voluntary) developed when Covid restrictions eased and requests for food parcels and other delivery requests slowed down, but there was a desire to (re)connect with the local community.
Glasgow Mutual Aid did not have funding for activities, but the group had built a lot of connections to organisations in the local area. Football was an inexpensive activity to run, and it was possible to start football sessions with a volunteer coach in the local park. The football sessions were free, gender inclusive and open to any fitness level / ability, they were promoted through partner organisations in the area.
Impact
Membership of Cathkin Blazes Community Football Club grew rapidly, and the group now has over 200 members. In addition to weekly, free training sessions, the group's events and activities include walking football, Roma womens' sessions (Community Renewal), partnering with Tennents for a community fundraiser, and Football for Survivors.
The group has always aimed to have an impact beyond football, 88% of respondents to our members' 2024 survey agreed that being part of Cathkin Blazes increased their connection to other people in the local area. Members of the group organise social activities, fundraisers and even a book club!
Part of my role has involved raising the profile of Cathkin Blazes Community Football Club in the public eye. I appeared on BBC Scotland’s A View From the Terrace, where I shared the story and ethos behind the club, highlighting our work with survivors and our commitment to inclusive football. This media feature helped amplify our message and connect with wider audiences across Scotland.
These appearances helped position Cathkin Blazes as a model for inclusive, trauma-informed sport, and contributed to growing interest in our survivor sessions and community-led approach.
some screenshots from BBC Scotland's A View from the Terrace:
Football for Survivors
Challenges
Playing football helped me recognise its potential as a therapeutic tool. Experiencing violence can lead to disconnection from the body, isolation, and difficulty processing anger. Cathkin Blazes provided a space to explore these challenges. Through running the club, it became clear that participation in a football team contributed to improved wellbeing and stronger social connections within the community.
Many rape support services are designed exclusively for individuals who identify as women, leaving a gap in provision for trans and non-binary people who have experienced violence. These services often focus on wellbeing activities such as yoga or crafts, which are valuable, but they tend to reinforce gendered expectations around healing. Football offers an opportunity to reclaim a traditionally male-dominated space and reconnect with the body through movement that is not typically framed as feminine.
Gender-based violence frequently leads to isolation, emotional distress, and financial hardship, including loss of income, relocation costs, and legal expenses. In this context, a free, community-based group that fosters connection and peer support can offer meaningful benefits.
Process
The football sessions for survivors used the same mix of drills and games as our regular training, but we made essential changes to the promotion, structure, and support of the sessions.
These sessions did not include talking therapies. However, after consulting with another survivor-led group, we hired a support worker to be present.
I led a team of volunteers, each with defined roles focused on participant support and accessibility.
We supported individuals attend by hosting online information sessions, offering phone check-ins, and addressing access needs such as transport or equipment.
Our lived experience informed the design. We identified anxiety-inducing moments in the journey to joining a session and made targeted adjustments to reduce barriers.
A trauma-informed approach was essential. We continuously adapted the sessions to ensure safety, emotional wellbeing, and inclusivity for all participants.
Impact
The survivor-focused football sessions have had a significant impact on both individual participants and the wider Cathkin Blazes community. A former participant from last year’s programme now serves as this year’s support worker, replacing the previous role held by Glasgow Rape Crisis. This transition keeps lived experience at the centre of the sessions.
The sessions created a safe and inclusive space for individuals who had experienced isolation due to gender-based violence. Participants built new friendships, reconnected with their community, and engaged in sport in a way that felt empowering. Three individuals from the first cohort joined the club’s committee, five now play competitively, and many others continue to attend regular training sessions. Feedback showed that all participants wanted to continue playing football, and most reported increased confidence in social settings.
Designed in consultation with survivor-led projects, the sessions were carefully structured to ensure participants felt supported and valued. While they followed the format of typical football training, the presence of a support worker and a trauma-informed approach helped create emotional safety. The programme showed that football can be a therapeutic alternative to traditional wellbeing activities, especially for those excluded from gendered services.
Beyond individual outcomes, the sessions strengthened the club’s infrastructure. Cathkin Blazes now has more than 20 committee members, with regular feedback sessions helping shape its operations. The programme also addressed key barriers to sport access, including cost, lack of experience, and low fitness levels. It provided inclusive support for trans and non-binary individuals, filling a gap left by mainstream services.