The Story and Purpose of the Project
HERIZON is a European cooperation project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, running from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2027. The project was created to address persistent inequalities affecting girls and women in sport by promoting safer, more inclusive, and gender-sensitive sporting environments, with a particular focus on field hockey.
Implemented by a partnership of sports and educational organisations across Europe, HERIZON combines grassroots sport, safeguarding, education, and community engagement to create environments where girls and young women can participate in sport safely, confidently, and without discrimination.
The project recognises that sport has enormous educational and social value when participation takes place within structures built on respect, equality, wellbeing, and inclusion. HERIZON therefore works not only with young athletes, but also with coaches, teachers, sports organisations, schools, and local communities to strengthen safeguarding awareness and promote equal opportunities in sport.
By integrating sport activities with education, awareness-raising, and institutional capacity-building, HERIZON supports the development of safer sporting cultures and empowers young people through participation, teamwork, leadership, and confidence-building.
Impact
- Promotes safer and more inclusive sport environments for girls and young women across Europe.
- Strengthens safeguarding knowledge and awareness among coaches, teachers, and sports professionals.
- Encourages participation in field hockey and grassroots sport among young people.
- Supports schools and local communities in promoting gender equality through sport.
- Builds stronger cooperation between sport organisations, educational actors, and safeguarding stakeholders.
Achievements to date
actively cooperating across Europe
young people engaged in introductory hockey and inclusion activities
implemented through schools, sport clubs, and community initiatives
Stories of Impact
"Through hockey, students not only discover a new sport but also experience teamwork, confidence, and inclusion in practice."
Who We Are
Lead organisation: ASD Lazio Hockey Prato Giovani
Team: Volunteers and qualified coaches
Location: Italy, with partnerships and outreach in Spain, Croatia and Malta
ASD Lazio Hockey Prato Giovani promotes inclusive grassroots sport with a concrete focus on disability inclusion, delivering adaptive hockey activities and accessible training sessions that encourage participation, wellbeing, and social integration of young people with disabilities, while strengthening transnational cooperation and community engagement through sport.
