BARNSLEY Football Club’s charitable arm has teamed up with the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit to get more girls in the town into football.

The ‘Goals’ sessions, which take place every Wednesday at the club’s indoor training centre on Grove Street, were set up to improve equality in the game while also reducing antisocial behaviour in the area.

Bosses behind the scheme say the sessions also improve community safety, increase awareness and prevention of sexual violence as well as promoting a positive behaviour change among young people.

A spokesperson for the SYVRU said: “The purpose of this project is to increase participation of young people in evening ‘Kicks’ sessions, with a specific focus on engaging girls and promoting gender equality, and increase knowledge and awareness of community safety, antisocial behaviour, violence prevention, and mental health support through educational workshops.

“Additionally, during the project they will work with the local Youth Offending Team (YOT) to deliver workshops on toxic masculinity, sexual behaviours and multi-sport sessions.

“They will also provide support to signpost young people to mental health services.

“They will utilise their partnerships with local schools, delivering interventions to pupils identified by their school, with classroom activities focusing on the above key topics.

They will also offer a volunteering programme throughout the project.

“This will give young people the opportunity to shadow coaches, help them to gain experience, and provide support to upskill to their desired pathway, should it be appropriate.

“The name Goals references the power of football, but is also a play on words in terms of setting goals for young people within the Barnsley community.”