£10 million to get women more active
Sport England today revealed 20 sports projects that will benefit from a £10 million National Lottery Fund; focus will be disadvantaged communities.
Sport England today revealed 20 sports projects that will benefit from a £10 million National Lottery fund to encourage women to be more physically active and tackle the gender gap in sport.
“For many women with children or those managing a tight budget, sport, and time to themselves, can slip down the list of priorities,” said Jennie Price, Sport England’s Chief Executive. “The projects we’re funding today have asked local women what is stopping them from getting involved and what sports interest them, before coming up with an offer that is appealing and accessible.”
Speaking at today’s the launch event at Mapperley Sports Village, Nottingham, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said: “We have many fantastic female athletes in this country, but not enough women participating at sport’s grassroots. More needs to be done to encourage women to participate in sport, particularly those from disadvantaged communities. The £10 million being invested by Sport England will give women the chance to try out new sports as part of a dedicated programme and hopefully keep them in sport in the future.”
London 2012 legacy
As well as women from disadvantaged communities, the chosen projects which include a national women’s cycling network and Netball in the City will also focus on women caring for children - and forms part of the drive to deliver a mass participation legacy from London 2012.
Gail Emms, one of Britain’s greatest ever badminton players, who won World Championship Gold and Olympic Silver medals also welcomed today’s announcement, “As a new mum, I know only too well how difficult it can be to make time for yourself and to get out there and play sport. The projects receiving investment from Sport England today will make a big difference because they’ve really thought through the challenges women face in becoming regular sports participants.”