Scotland Launches Project 2035 to Boost Women's Football

A £250,000 investment will drive new opportunities for women and girls in football across Scotland over the next decade.

Generic image of women and girls playing football on a Scottish pitch with a blurred background.
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Generic image of women and girls playing football on a Scottish pitch with a blurred background.

A new national initiative, Project 2035, backed by £250,000 this year, has been launched to significantly grow women's and girls' football participation, coaching, and leadership across Scotland.

The Scottish Government has unveiledProject 2035, a long-term strategy designed to create more opportunities for women and girls in football. The initiative aims to increase participation, develop stronger pathways into the sport, and position Scotland as a leading nation for women's football by 2035. This year's investment totals £250,000.
A dedicated Girls' and Women’s Football Taskforce will oversee the project's implementation over the next decade. This taskforce will comprise representatives from key organisations including the Scottish Government, Scottish Women's Football, the Scottish Football Association, the Scottish Women's Premier League, the Professional Footballers’ Association Scotland, sportscotland, and COSLA.
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"Football has the power to bring communities together, improve health and wellbeing, and inspire young people to achieve their potential. Project 2035 is about building the momentum we have seen in recent years in women’s and girls’ football and creating even more opportunities across Scotland. Our ambition is simple: every girl in Scotland who wants to be part of football should have the opportunity to do so, whether as a player, coach, official, volunteer, supporter or leader. By working together we can help Scotland become a leading nation for women's football."

John Swinney · First Minister
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"Today's announcement is fantastic news for the future of the Girls' and Women's game in Scotland. Project 35 will play a pivotal role in supporting the sustainable growth of our game over the next decade to ensure every girl and woman in Scotland has the opportunity to be involved in football in whatever capacity they choose. On the pitch and beyond, our commitment is stronger than ever to grow the game in an equitable and sustainable way. The newly created Scottish Girls' and Women’s Football Taskforce will provide an important focal point as we strive to achieve our collective ambitions for the game."

Ian Maxwell · Scottish FA Chief Executive
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"At Scottish Women’s Football we experience firsthand the incredible growth in participation of girls playing grassroots football, but we know challenges remain and more work needs to be done. That’s why this Scottish Government-led taskforce will be a gamechanger – harnessing passion and momentum to pull partners together, support volunteers and give every girl who wants to the opportunity to play the game they love."

Aileen Campbell · Scottish Women's Football Chief Executive
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"Project 2035 will transform women’s football into an integral part of Scottish society, driving record attendances, expanding professional opportunities for girls and women, and unlocking sustained investment across the game to accelerate long-term growth and success."

Fiona McIntyre · Scottish Women's Premier League Managing Director
Based on information from the official source: Scottish Government (gov.scot) (04/11/2026)