👧 Today, on International Day of the Girl, we celebrate girls everywhere, and the spaces that help them discover what they’re capable of. ⛹️‍♀️ Our president, Lioness Jill Scott, started her journey in her local playing field in Sunderland: “Without Roker Park on my doorstep, I wouldn’t have become an England footballer.” The same can be said of the Red Roses women’s rugby star Sadia Kabeya, who learned the game at Streatham Croydon RFC in Thornton Heath – a community-owned club in a densely urban area of South London, where green space is hard to come by. Crucially, this space is protected in perpetuity, guaranteeing that future sporting stars in Streatham will always have the opportunity to play. Jill and Sadia's experiences aren't just feel-good stories. They're proof that access to safe, quality green space changes lives. Research commissioned by Sky and conducted by Public First shows that girls who play after-school sport in the UK are 50% more likely to later get top jobs—but only if they have somewhere to play. Here's the reality: 1 in 3 children don't have a playground nearby, let alone a protected playing field. In low-income and urban areas, where girls and young people need these spaces most, access is even harder to find. 🌳 Parks, playing fields, and green spaces give girls room to play, build confidence, take up space, and belong. Without protection, these opportunities disappear. That's why at Fields in Trust we're fighting to protect green spaces forever, because every girl, regardless of postcode or background, deserves the chance to become whoever she wants to be. 💚 #DayOfTheGirl #GreenSpace #GirlsInSport #AccessForAll #FieldsInTrust (fb)

🏆A huge congratulations to our President, Jill Scott, on receiving the 2025 Legends of Football Award! Jill was honoured with one of football’s most prestigious recognitions this week, a celebration of her remarkable career, her leadership on and off the pitch, and her continued dedication to making a difference. As Fields in Trust President, Jill brings the same passion, energy, and commitment to championing the protection of green spaces for future generations. We are very proud to have Jill helping lead our team! Well done, Jill! (fb)