THE VISION
Sport has the power to change lives. Despite this, women and girls continue to miss out on participation. In the UK, 1.5 million less women play sport each week than men, and only 32% of women and girls play sport at least once a month. Whilst many campaigns seek to increase engagement, it’s necessary to tackle the structure of sport as an industry, and the culture surrounding sport, to truly effect change.
THE CHARITY: WOMEN IN SPORT
Women in Sport exists so that every woman and girl in the UK can experience the transformational and lifelong rewards of sport.
To achieve this they inform through their research into women and girls’ relationship with sport and physical activity, innovate through partnering with sport deliverers and inspire using their insight and expertise to bring about changes in policy, practice and attitudes that lead to greater opportunities for women and girls in sport.
Their Mission: Women and girls are missing out on the benefit of the lifelong benefits of sport. WIS want to change this for every woman and girl in the UK.
Their Vision: A society where women and men have equal opportunities.
How they do it: WIS are the only organisation in the UK that researches sport purely from the perspective of women and girls. They use the insight gained to drive change through campaigns and partnerships. The money raised through the Sea Change Sport campaign will have a huge impact in helping to drive this change:
£1000 could fund an insight pack to disseminate Women In Sport's vital research into how to increase the participation of women and girls in sport, covering issues including puberty, menopause, culture and diversity;
£10,000 could help fund a campaign about the inequalities that exist within the culture of sport and how to prevent unconscious bias in the sport sector;
£35,000 could help fund a sports program in disadvantaged communities across the country.
EXAMPLES OF THEIR FANTASTIC WORK
Reframing Sport for Teenage Girls: Tackling Teenage Disengagement
“Too many girls are disengaging from sport and exercise in their teens. This is huge compared to boys – a significant missed opportunity.”
Beyond 30: Workplace Culture
“When I look at the contribution from women – we are a better Board as a result. You get a different dynamic… the challenge is further down the sport – how do we get women coming through the system?”
Media: Where are all the Women?
The media has a significant influence both as a vehicle to transform society’s views on women and gender equality as well as in normalising women’s sport. It has tremendous reach and the power to reinforce positive attitudes in society.
Sport for Success
“If you can give women the boost you get from having done sport, having been really successful at that, I think that can be really, really helpful”.
