Beat The Block is a non-profit organisation committed to empowering women and girls between the ages of 8-21 from underrepresented backgrounds who face both internal and external challenges that hinder their access to sport. It aims to tackle these blocks through education, exposure and sport in the hopes of eliminating some of these obstacles for the following generations. The organisation was born from its founder Naomi Bedeau’s lived experience within football and the barriers she faced in that environment. As a professional footballer, activist and patron of Show Racism the Red Card, Bedeau advocates for equity in sport, ensuring that underrepresented groups are effectively supported.
Common barriers to sport
The barriers that can prevent girls from getting into sport are made of both internal and external blocks. For example, internal blocks may include a fear of judgement. In 2022, Women in Sport reported that around 76% of girls who stopped participating in sport did so as a result of feeling judged by others. This statistic is particularly concerning as it suggests a significant number of girls are stepping away from sport because of others’ opinions – factors that are subjective, external, and ultimately changeable.
Another example of internal barriers are internalised stereotypes. According to Women in Sport 2025, 32% of black girls say they are frequently penalised when expressing themselves in sport. Stereotypes are widely held, fixed ideas of a particular type of person. Such perceptions can be deeply harmful to those affected, as they leave little room for individuals to challenge or reshape the assumptions placed upon them. When preconceived notions go untested, they become limiting labels rather than fair reflections of character or ability. As a result, many feel discouraged from entering or continuing in sport, wary of being judged through a narrow and often inaccurate lens.
On the other hand, structural and external barriers can also play a significant role in discouraging participation in sport, as access, opportunity and support are not always evenly distributed. Limited opportunities are an example of this, as women’s teams often have smaller budgets with clubs frequently prioritising the men’s side of the club. This then translates into unequal access to sufficient training facilities and medical support.
Another barrier that occurs frequently for underrepresented groups is that there is no sense of belonging. This could be due to a lack of diversity. If we look at the 2025 Women’s Euro squad, there were 4 players included with Black ancestry, this equates to approximately 17% as reported by Show Racism the Red Card. Additionally, in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons in the Women’s Super League (WSL), it is estimated that around 10% to 15% of players are from Black, Asian, and other ethnically diverse backgrounds.
If diversity is limited within the top tier of women’s football and on the international stage, that lack of visibility inevitably filters down to grassroots level. When representation is scarce at the highest level, it becomes harder for young players from ethnic minority backgrounds to see a pathway for themselves or to imagine belonging in those spaces. This is precisely why representation at the top matters: it provides tangible role models, widens ambition, and reassures those coming through the ranks that elite football is not closed off to them.
How Beat the Block makes a difference
Beat the Block recognise the internal and external barriers that prevent girls getting into sport. To help overcome these barriers, aspiring young girls are educated through skill-building and empowerment workshops, delivered by Naomi Bedeau in local schools.
Exposure to sport is equally important, as opportunities are often fewer than those available to their male counterparts. This is why Beat the Block provides role-model and guest speaker sessions alongside community-building activities. By directly addressing the feeling of not belonging, these initiatives can make a tangible difference to confidence and self-belief, gradually helping to remove this significant barrier.
Getting girls involved in sports is the main goal that Beat the Block are trying to achieve. By supporting their development through professional coaching and giving them the opportunity to try sports they may never have previously accessed, it removes pressures such as financial constraints and allows them to participate freely and without burden.
The impact that Beat the Block is having has caught the attention of other influential people within the sports industry. Founder of Football Black List-Leon Mann said that
“Beat the Block is much needed, and Naomi is perfectly placed to lead this vitally important work.”
He then goes on to say:
“We need more focus and expertise to truly ensure impact and progress. Beat the Block can play a key role here.”
It is clear that the work of Naomi Bedeau is having a positive impact on its target audience, alongside other prominent voices in the field. As this work continues, they move closer to realising a vision in which girls feel confident in their potential, unrestrained by the barriers that once limited them.
