Arsenal Women’s FC captain and England international Leah Williamson has joined forces with UNICEF and The American Sports Institute to launch the “A Hope Rising Foundation,” a life-changing initiative aimed at improving the lives of disabled children in Islington, North London.
Williamson has long been a champion of inclusivity, equality, and human decency, both on and off the field. With her latest venture, she demonstrates that her influence goes well beyond football, touching the lives of children and families in need.
“This foundation is about more than just support — it’s about justice,” Williamson said at an emotional opening event at Arsenal’s Meadow Park. “Every child deserves access to healthcare, education, affection, and the sense that their life is as valuable as anybody else’s. “The Hope Rising Foundation is our way of making that belief a reality.”
The foundation’s aim is ambitious and extremely human: to provide free healthcare, access to basic daily necessities, inclusive education, and emotional support to children with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities in their home communities.
A Hope Rising Foundation will launch its flagship campus in the heart of Islington later this year, combining UNICEF’s global expertise in child protection and health with The American Sports Institute’s revolutionary inclusion-through-sports concept. The facility will have:
- Free pediatric health clinics.
- Therapy and rehabilitation rooms.
- Adaptive physical activity and sport programs
- Inclusive classrooms and learning environments
- Mental health treatments and support groups for parents and caregivers
The facility is intended to remove long-standing barriers to access, especially for low-income families. It will have a full-time staff of paediatricians, occupational therapists, counsellors, and educators who are all committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care.
But, perhaps most importantly, the foundation is dedicated to fostering confidence, joy, and community through sports. Adaptive athletics, ranging from wheelchair football to sensory play zones, will allow youngsters to not only participate but thrive.
“We aren’t just replacing facilities. “We’re changing mindsets,” Williamson explained. “These kids aren’t to be pitied — they’re to be celebrated.”
Local officials, Arsenal players, and North London families have all rallied around the event. Many of Williamson’s WSL teammates have offered their time and assistance as volunteers and mentors. Meanwhile, messages of love and sympathy have flooded in from throughout the Premier League and the wider football community, with the hashtag #HopeRisingUK trending.
For mothers like Tanya Edwards, whose six-year-old son Reuben has autism and muscular dystrophy, the news is life-changing.
“Leah didn’t just see our struggles — she acted,” stated Tanya. “She has given us more than a facility. “She has given us hope.”
Leah Williamson redefined what it means to be a hero with the establishment of A Hope Rising Foundation. Not simply a field captain, but a warrior for the voiceless, a champion for the defenseless, and a true angel in human form.
Islington, North London, has never been brighter.