Girls’ Kick & Create Camps Camden Islington 2026

Key Points

• Bloomsbury Football Foundation, in partnership with Adobe, has launched “Kick & Create”, a series of girls-only football camps combining on-pitch coaching with off-pitch creative workshops using Adobe Express.
• Camps are open to girls aged 6 to 16 in the London boroughs of Camden and Islington, running during school holidays over the next two years, starting with the May half-term in 2026.
• Creative activities include designing posters, videos, football shirts, team mascots, and logos to foster self-expression and future workforce skills.
• Camps are heavily subsidised to address financial barriers, providing relief to parents amid high costs of holiday activities.
• New Adobe-commissioned research reveals girls are three times more likely to attend football camps with creative elements; 48% of girls report increased interest in playing after watching women’s football, yet only 47% of parents would enrol daughters compared to 65% for sons.
• Barriers include cost (43%), availability (22%), and distance (22%); 88% of UK parents feel pressure for safe holiday activities for daughters.
• Campaign supported by former England and Arsenal footballer Karen Carney, who helped design the Adobe mascot for the Women’s FA Cup Final.
• Adobe Fan Made competition invites public to design kit patterns in Adobe Express for Bloomsbury mascots at the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final on 31 May 2026; £10 donated per entry to fund more camp places.
• Charlie Hyman, Founder and CEO of Bloomsbury Football Foundation, states the camps build confidence, life skills, and belonging, emphasising “girls belong in football, and their creativity matters.”
• Simon Morris, Vice President of International Marketing at Adobe, highlights blending creativity and football to impact the game on and off the pitch.
• Bloomsbury Football Foundation, founded in 2018 by Charlie Hyman, supports 6,500 players weekly, including over 2,000 girls, with bursaries for low-income families; recognised by London Football Awards and partners with FIFA, Nike, Mastercard, and LALIGA.
• Adobe’s broader involvement includes sponsorship of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, Camden Town WFC, and partnerships with Premier League, NFL, and more.

(North London News) April 3, 2026 – Girls aged six to 16 across Camden and Islington can now sign up for Kick & Create, innovative football camps launched by the Bloomsbury Football Foundation in partnership with Adobe, blending on-pitch coaching with creative workshops using Adobe Express.

The camps, heavily subsidised to tackle cost barriers, start this May half-term and run during school holidays for two years, aiming to boost participation amid research showing girls are three times more likely to join when creativity is involved.

What Are the Kick & Create Camps?

The Kick & Create initiative represents a fresh approach to grassroots football, specifically tailored for girls in Camden and Islington.

As detailed in Adobe’s official blog, the camps combine professional football coaching with hands-on sessions in Adobe Express, where participants design posters, create videos, craft football shirts, and develop team mascots and logos.

These activities are designed not just for fun but to equip girls with digital skills essential for the future workforce, as noted by Adobe in their press release.

“The hands-on workshops will teach young girls how to create videos and design posters, football shirts and much more, helping them express ideas faster and more clearly,”

the release states.

Open to all girls aged 6-16 from London, the programme addresses an access gap in women’s football, inspired by the Lionesses’ success.

When and Where Will the Camps Take Place?

The first camps kick off during the May half-term 2026, with sessions continuing over the next two years during all school holidays. Locations are within the London boroughs of Camden and Islington, making them accessible for local families.

As reported in Adobe’s announcement,

“Open to girls across London, the Kick & Create camps will take place in the London Boroughs of Camden and Islington during the school holidays, for two years.”

This timing aligns with parents’ needs for structured holiday activities, with 88% reporting pressure to find safe options for daughters.

Who Is Behind This Initiative?

Bloomsbury Football Foundation, a charity founded in 2018 by Charlie Hyman, leads the effort, supporting 6,500 players weekly including over 2,000 girls through bursaries and specialised programmes. The foundation’s mission is “to transform lives through the magic of football,” tackling socioeconomic barriers.

Partnering is Adobe, the global tech firm sponsoring the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and grassroots clubs like Camden Town WFC. Simon Morris, Vice President of International Marketing at Adobe, said:

“Creativity is in all of us and football is part of the fabric of British culture. Bringing those two things together is what sets this initiative apart. We want to make sure that girls can see the impact they can make in all areas of football, both on the pitch, and in every creative role that surrounds it.”

Charlie Hyman, Founder and CEO of Bloomsbury Football Foundation, added:

“At Bloomsbury, we see every day how having access to football builds confidence, life skills, and a sense of belonging for young girls. By bringing Adobe’s creative expertise into our camps, we’re building something special – helping girls grow their imagination and creativity alongside their skills on and off the pitch. Our partnership will advance our mission to transform lives through the magic of football. These camps send a simple but powerful message: girls belong in football, and their creativity matters. We’re now able to give even more young people the opportunity and the inspiration to thrive in life.”

Why Focus on Creativity in Football Camps?

New research commissioned by Adobe in February 2026, conducted by Censuswide with 1,000 UK youths aged 11-16 and 1,000 parents, underpins the creative angle. It found that almost half of girls (48%) say watching women’s football has increased their interest in playing, yet parental enrolment lags: 65% for sons versus 47% for daughters.

Crucially,

“when creative elements – such as kit design, video creation, and mascot design – are part of the programme, girls’ interest in attending camps increases threefold (64%).”

Girls are also more likely to return for creative opportunities.

Karen Carney, former England and Arsenal footballer and campaign ambassador, explained:

“I was once the only girl at my football camp. It was tough. That’s why I know how much it matters to have a space that genuinely feels like it was made for you. These camps do that. They take two things that many young girls love, kicking about a football and being creative, bringing them together in one safe place for girls to express themselves and have fun.”

What Barriers Are the Camps Addressing?

Cost (43%), availability (22%), and distance (22%) are top hurdles, per the Adobe research. Heavily subsidised places provide financial relief, building on Bloomsbury’s bursary model for low-income families.

The girls-only spaces ensure a welcoming environment, with female coaching specialists, as Bloomsbury launched similar camps in May 2025. This counters the “access gap” despite inspiration from the women’s game, as noted by Simon Morris on LinkedIn.

How Can the Public Get Involved?

Adobe’s Fan Made competition, launched alongside the announcement, lets the public design patterns in Adobe Express for kits worn by Bloomsbury mascots and player escorts at the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final on 31 May 2026.

Karen Carney collaborated with Bloomsbury players on the official Adobe mascot design. “For every design submitted, Adobe will donate £10 to Bloomsbury Football Foundation, funding additional camp places,” the press release confirms.

Full entry details are available via Adobe’s platforms.

What Is Bloomsbury Football Foundation’s Track Record?

Founded by Charlie Hyman in 2018, the charity has earned accolades from the London Football Awards and Sports Business Awards. It partners with FIFA, Nike, Mastercard, and LALIGA, delivering mental and physical health benefits through football.

Weekly programmes reach 6,500 players, emphasising purpose, belonging, and progression. The girls’ camps extend this, removing barriers for safe, enjoyable development.

How Does This Fit Adobe’s Broader Sports Engagement?

Adobe’s commitments include the Adobe Women’s FA Cup lead partnership, Camden Town WFC support, and deals with Real Madrid, Premier League, NFL, and Major League Baseball. Initiatives like Adobe Express Squad with the Premier League promote creativity in sports.

As one blog post states,

“Whether it’s in the park, on the pitch, in the stadium or watching around the world, sports fans are sharing their love for teams and players in new creative ways.”

Kick & Create extends this to grassroots girls.