Clubs join forces to facilitate the trip of a lifetime!

Two Redditch clubs – Rotary Club of Redditch & Rotary Club of Redditch Kingfisher – came together to help  to fund a life-changing trip for 225 children to attend the FA Women’s Cup Final at Wembley on the 31^st May. This project was part of our joint commitment to support children and young people in our community.

Following an approach from Bordesley Multi-Academy Trust, which oversees three schools in Redditch, the two clubs successfully applied for grants from the District 1060 Children’s Holiday Fund.

The Wembley trip was part of a local initiative to improve schools’ attendance, which has struggled to recover since the pandemic, affecting the life chances of a whole generation of young people. Since the trip include a mix of girls and boys, the trip was also part of efforts to break down gender stereotypes.

Emma James, Headteacher at Birchensale Middle School, one of the three schools involved, said:

“We’ve seen a real shift in attitudes towards attendance. The excitement around Wembley has given pupils something to aim for and has made a genuine difference.

“More importantly, it means more pupils are in school, learning and engaging every day, which has a direct impact on their achievement and future opportunities.”

Bordesley MAT has reported a total of 3,500 additional days of attendance since the opportunity was announced, and staff across all three schools have reported increased motivation, pride and commitment to being in school.

Rotary funding was part of a funding ‘package’, which included The Oakland Foundation, and the three schools themselves.

Photo shows some of the children from the three schools, flanked by Steve Robson, President of the Rotary Club of Redditch (2025/26), and Elizabeth Webber, President of the Rotary Club of Redditch Kingfisher (2025/26).