The group advising the Scottish Government on getting more women and girls physically active and into sport is to focus on the particular barriers to participation that affect different groups.
The Women and Girls in Sport Board, which is made up of representatives from sport, business and the media, has set out its work programme and also revealed its new brand and visual identity. The board’s announcement comes ahead of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week from 30 September to 5 October.
The board will focus on four areas :
Intervention: what is needed to get more women and girls physically active or into sports
Prevention: what measures will ensure women and girls don’t drop out of physical activity or sport and have opportunities to continue
Reconnection: how women and girls can get back into physical activity or sport when a major change to their life happens
Continuation: helping women and girls continue with physical activity or sport throughout their lives
Chair of the board Amanda Jones, Partner and Women’s Advancement Director at law firm Dentons, said: “We recognise there are different challenges facing women and girls in relation to maintaining healthy levels of physical activity at different stages in their lives.
“We want to make sure that the work we do takes account of the issues faced by all women and girls, whatever their backgrounds or stage in life. We are taking the opportunity of launching our new hashtag #shecanshewill before the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport week, to help focus that discussion.”
Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “Being physically active is one of the best things we can do for both physical and mental health. Sport and physical activity is also great for building confidence, friendships and social networks, resilience and skills that can be used in other areas, and, importantly, it is fun.
“Scotland has a proud tradition in female sport and physical activity, not least the recent success of our national football team making the World Cup finals, and I am determined that as a nation and society we do everything we can to encourage women and girls to take part, and remove the barriers.”
The Women and Girls in Sport Board was appointed to give independent advice on recommendations to support the Scottish Government ambition of encouraging more women and girls into sport and physical activity, and raise awareness of the achievements of sportswomen at all levels.
Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week runs from 30 September to 5 October with a programme of activity to encourage more women into sport and physical activity, raise awareness of those regularly taking part at all levels, and address the barriers that lead to lower activity rates among women.
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