Organizations in Europe that use sport as a tool for social inclusion now have an opportunity to access multi-year support through the Play for the Lead Programme, a new initiative launched by the adidas Foundation under its Playing for Purpose portfolio.

The programme seeks to strengthen opportunities for girls and young women from underserved communities to participate in sport and physical activity. It places a strong emphasis on empowering young women with migrant or refugee backgrounds, asylum-seeking status, or those from ethnically marginalized communities to actively shape and lead inclusive sports initiatives.

About the Programme

Play for the Lead is designed as a three-year collaborative journey that helps organizations strengthen youth participation practices while working alongside young women aged 18–25 to co-create solutions that improve access to sport.

Selected organizations will receive financial support and capacity-building opportunities to enhance their ability to create welcoming, inclusive, and sustainable sports environments. The programme combines organizational development, leadership training for young women, collaborative project design, and long-term implementation support.

Programme Components

Participating organizations will engage in:

• Organizational capacity strengthening
• Youth participation and leadership development
• Co-design of community sport initiatives with young women
• Two years of project implementation and peer-learning activities
• Networking and collaboration with partner organizations

The initiative aims to increase participation, retention, and quality of sports experiences for girls and young women facing social and economic barriers.

Funding Support

Selected organizations will receive:

• Three years of financial support
• Capacity-building and organizational development assistance
• Access to peer-learning opportunities
• Support for designing and implementing inclusive sport programmes
• Opportunities to collaborate with youth leaders and partner organizations

Information Webinar

Interested applicants can participate in an online information session:

Date: 15 June 2026
Time: 13:00–14:00 CEST

Application Requirements

Organizations should carefully review the programme guidelines before applying and prepare information related to:

• Organizational background
• Experience using sport for social impact
• Youth participation practices
• Plans to engage girls and young women in programme design and implementation

Why This Opportunity Matters

Girls and young women from migrant, refugee, asylum-seeking, and ethnically marginalized communities often face multiple barriers that limit participation in sport. Through long-term investment, leadership development, and collaborative programme design, Play for the Lead seeks to ensure that these young women are not only participants but active decision-makers in shaping the future of community sport.

Organizations committed to creating equitable and inclusive sporting environments are encouraged to apply and become part of this multi-country initiative aimed at expanding access, strengthening leadership, and promoting social inclusion through sport.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 6 July 2026 (23:59 CEST).