This Mental Health Awareness Week, the theme is Action – for yourself, for someone else, for all of us. For teachers looking for a way to take that action in the classroom, a new campaign from The FA and Barclays has everything you need.
Made for This Game: Breaking Barriers is a national education initiative offering free, curriculum-linked resources for primary and secondary schools – tackling body image, mental wellbeing, gender stereotyping and misogyny in a way that’s accessible, engaging, and ready to use right now.
And the need for that action has never been clearer. 63% of secondary school teachers say body image and self-consciousness are the biggest factors stopping teenage girls from taking part in sport. Research from Youth Sport Trust reveals girls are over three times more likely than boys to lack confidence in physical activity, and twice as likely to feel a lack of resilience. Meanwhile, more than half of all teachers say they don’t feel confident leading conversations about anti-misogyny in class.
The Breaking Barriers resources gives them a way in.
What are the resources?
Developed by The FA, supported by Barclays through the Barclays Girls’ Football in Schools partnership, the lesson packs are designed for all pupils, ensuring both girls and boys engage with these important conversations from an early age.
Primary resources (Ages 5–11): Focused on misogyny, inclusion and challenging gender stereotypes, the primary packs feature CBBC and Strictly Come Dancing star Molly Rainford in conversation with primary-aged pupils. Together they explore how gender bias can shape young people’s beliefs, and how to challenge it.
Secondary resources (Ages 11–16): The secondary resources address body confidence and mental wellbeing – the primary drivers behind girls dropping out of sport during their teenage years. Molly speaks with secondary-aged girls about the pressures society places on self-image, and what young people can do to push back.
All resources are free and available at: girlsfootballinschools.org/made-for-this-game.php.
A podcast for teachers, by teachers
Alongside the lesson packs, The FA has released a dedicated visual podcast to support teachers in leading these conversations with confidence.
Hosted by comedian and women’s football fan Maisie Adam, the episode brings together Lioness legend Rachel Brown-Finnis and Educating Yorkshire star Matthew Burton to explore the wider societal challenges facing young people, and what teachers and adults can actively do to help.
It’s honest, practical, and designed for the staffroom as much as the classroom.
Why it matters beyond football
While Breaking Barriers is rooted in girls’ football participation, its reach extends far beyond the pitch.
Girls’ football participation has more than doubled in recent years – rising from 1.2 million in 2020/21 to 2.7 million in 2024/25. The Barclays Girls’ Football in Schools programme now reaches 90% of eligible schools nationwide. But access alone isn’t enough.
As Sue Day MBE, Director of Women’s Football at The FA, puts it:
“We cannot ignore the fact that societal pressures are threatening to slow the excellent progress that’s been made over the last few years. By starting these conversations for girls and boys in their formative years, I hope we can help to develop a generation of girls who truly believe that football is for them.”
Tom Corbett, Group Head of Sponsorship and Client Experience at Barclays, echoed that sentiment:
“Access alone isn’t enough. Too many girls are still held back by stereotypes, self-doubt and wider societal pressures. That’s why we’re proud to build on this progress – breaking down the barriers that stop girls from even wanting to step on the pitch, and creating environments where they feel confident, welcome and seen.”
For Lioness Molly Rainford, who features throughout the resources, the conversations she had while making the campaign were an eye-opener:
“I know body confidence, misogyny and gender bias remain as barriers, but it’s really important that we change the narrative. The conversation is much greater than football itself, but it’s a great place to start.”
How to access the resources
All Made for This Game: Breaking Barriers resources are free and available to schools now at: girlsfootballinschools.org/made-for-this-game.php.
Resources include lesson packs for KS1–KS4 and the visual podcast for teachers – with more resources launching later in 2026.
