‘Fair Game’ is an innovative 6-week programme that uses the platform of sport to reach young people, helping to promote respect, equality and healthier relationships as part of the drive to end violence against women and girls.
This collaborative programme, created in partnership between the Irish Football Association Foundation, Women’s Aid Federation NI, and the PSNI represents a unique approach to education and prevention, and was only made possible through funding obtained from The Executive Office’s Local Change Fund.
The sessions have been developed by Women’s Aid and are facilitated by IFA Foundation staff with buy in at local club level to be rolled out to hundreds of young people in their communities.
The PSNI will be delivering one of the six sessions based on their Power to Change Campaign with the young people in the programme. The Power to Change campaign urges men and boys to help play their part in affecting a cultural and societal shift, through challenging attitudes and behaviors and providing them with the knowledge and skills to safely intervene when they see inappropriate actions or comments.
By bringing together the influence of sport with the goals of the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework, the initiative hopes to challenge harmful attitudes and create safe environments for young people both on and off the pitch.
‘Fair Game’ runs over a six-week period, with each week focusing on different aspects:
- Welcome & Trust - Helps establish group dynamics, build trust, and create understanding before moving into the main programme.
- Who Really Are You? - Looks at personal and societal values and why they matter. This session also examines the influence of so-called “influencers” who promote harmful messaging about women, including Andrew Tate.
- Healthy Relationships - Identifies behaviours that make relationships healthy or unhealthy, and highlights the importance of trust, respect, consent, and setting boundaries.
- Coercive Control - Discusses what coercive behaviour can look like in a relationship, common tactics used to maintain control, and how to recognise when others may be experiencing it.
- Empowering Social Bystanders - Introduces the concept of social bystanders and champions, explores barriers to speaking up, and develops strategies for empowerment and positive action.
- Power to Change – Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland deliver a session with the young people based on their campaign of the same name.
Women’s Aid developed the concept of the programme through building on the materials created by their SAY (Social Action Youth) project. The project brought together a diverse group of young people aged 12-18 engaged in Women’s Aid services across NI, who are survivors of domestic abuse. The project provided a platform for young people to share their voices and have their say in safe and creative ways, resulting in the creation of several powerful tools including the SAY healthy relationship website heavily informed the creation of ‘Fair Game’.
If you have been impacted by any of the themes raised in the programme, please know that support is available when you are ready to talk. For more information on accessing support services please visit :www.womensaidni.org
Delivering of this groundbreaking programme is managed by the IFA Foundation. Should you have any questions about the programme, please don’t hesitate in contacting us at Nadine.Murphy@irishfa.com.