Arsenal Women have been awarded the Game Changer Award at Grassroot Soccer Gala 2025, and vice-captain Leah Williamson was there to accept the award on behalf of the club.
The award was presented by Christen Press and former Gunner Tobin Heath last night, with other guests including Sir Alex Ferguson, Roberta Moore and Kola Bokinni.
### GRASSROOT SOCCER
Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is an adolescent health organization that leverages the power of football to equip young people with the life-saving information, services, and mentorship they need to live healthier lives.
The organisation was founded in 2002 by Dr. Tommy Clark and three others after they witnessed the devastating effects of HIV while playing professional football in Zimbabwe.
After watching friends die of AIDS, the four teammates recognised that football - a positive force in the community - could be used to engage adolescents to stop the spread of HIV.
Over 25 years, the organisation has expanded its focus to the health of adolescents, empowering more than 25 million young people to make educated choices about their most pressing and interconnected health challenges.
### GAME CHANGER AWARD
The Game Changers award is presented to organisations (or individuals) that have made a significant contribution to Grassroot Soccer’s mission of using football to improve the health and wellbeing of young people.
Previous winners include the US Women’s National Team, for their advocacy in gender equality, and the cast of Ted Lasso, for raising awareness around mental health.
We received the 2025 edition of the award “in recognition of driving gender inclusion and wellbeing”.
After accepting the award, Leah said: "Being at Arsenal for 20 years, despite the primary target of any football club being to win, I believe that I can say that Arsenal also live by the mantra that there is more to football than just the game.
"My primary responsibility as a football player is to go on the pitch and win, and I know that, but Arsenal has always encouraged me to look at what can be done beyond those 90 minutes.
"For me to think about the legacy that we've had and how proud it makes me, the duty that we all feel to give out to that community, to use our platform to speak about gender inclusion and wellbeing, it's an open, progressive, inclusive environment.
"It doesn't matter your gender, your ethnicity, your sexuality, you can find a sense of belonging."
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