FENCING CLUBS INVITED TO JOIN PILOT CLUB CONNECT PROGRAMME

BF-affiliated clubs are invited to express their interest in joining the new pilot We Are Forging Futures: Club Connect programme, linking young fencers of the future from We Are Forging Futures schools with their local clubs, giving a pathway for them to continue their fencing journey. Expressions of interest close 30th June 2026.

As part of the BF 2030 Strategy goal to Create A Sustainable Future, BF’s Participation and Partnerships teams are collaborating to pilot a We Are Forging Futures: Club Connect initiative.

The initiative aims to:

• Ensure a clear journey for young people who first access fencing at a We Are Forging Futures school and want to continue their journey at their local club.
• Provide parents and schools with information about their local clubs, including safeguarding, coaching and standards.
• Provide clubs with a deeper connection to local schools that have opened their doors to fencing and need a place to send their pupils to for the next steps in their experience.
• Help clubs create a deeper two-way connection between themselves and local communities.
• Explore and develop resources for clubs to welcome young fencers and give them a positive experience as they transition from school sessions to a club environment.
• Provide club coaches with information about the activities that We Are Forging Futures schools deliver, so they are prepared to ensure a seamless journey as they welcome young fencers.
• Develop BF-supported marketing and promotion of the Club Connect initiative.

Christopher Bryden, BF Club Development Officer, says:

“This is a project which is very much in the early stages of its development, and it needs to work for our clubs. I welcome expressions of interest from fencing clubs to ensure their needs and ideas are considered from the beginning. We want We Are Forging Futures to complement the excellent work being undertaken by local clubs in getting people within their community to fence. By linking local We Are Forging Futures partner schools with local clubs, we can ensure we are helping to bring the next generation of fencers through. I’m excited to see where this approach can take us.”

Giulia Enright, BF Commercial Officer, adds:

“We have schools signing up every week and thousands of young people have taken part in fencing since We Are Forging Futures started. As the programme grows across the UK, we want to ensure we’re giving these young people a clear journey so they can continue fencing. Club Connect will give schools clear information about their local clubs, coaches and compliance to ensure young fencers have a safe start in our sport. Club Connect will also give clubs clear information about the We Are Forging Futures programme, helping them prepare to welcome these young fencers and setting everyone up for success.

Compliance:

We Are Forging Futures: Club Connect clubs must be (or must be working towards being) fully compliant. For further details on this, please see the BF Affiliated Club Compliance page.

Next steps:

If your club is interested in joining the We Are Forging Futures: Club Connect pilot, please complete the form below by 30th June 2026. The Club Connect team will be in touch after this date.

Any compliance issues can be addressed ahead of clubs joining the Club Connect pilot.

Don’t miss the latest news. Subscribe to our weekly summary email, The Fencing Digest, including the previous week’s latest news and announcements. Sign up here.