Women in some of North Hull’s most disadvantaged areas are to
benefit from new sporting opportunities thanks to a £300,000
National Lottery award.
Active Women in Hull will increase the number of women playing
sport and promote a healthier lifestyle.
The Hull City Council project is one of 20 projects backed as
part of Sport England’s £10 million Active Women campaign to tackle
the gender gap in sport. It aims to encourage women with children
and those from disadvantaged communities to play more sport as part
of the drive to deliver a mass participation legacy from London
2012.
Figures published by Sport England in December revealed the size
of the gender gap in sport. At present, one in eight (2.761
million) women regularly play sport in England. Whilst this has
increased significantly in the past five years, it still trails
behind men’s participation, with one in five (4.176 million) taking
part. Women from disadvantaged communities play even less sport,
with less than one in 10 women taking part.
Active Women in Hull was developed after consultation with local
women and offers sports such as swimming, athletics and netball
alongside opportunities for women to become volunteers and to
qualify as sport leaders and coaches.
Delivered in some of north Hull’s most disadvantaged areas,
including Bransholme, Orchard Park and Greenwood, the project is
being delivered in partnership with local children’s centres and
health services such as Hull’s Active Lifestyles Health
Trainers.
Rachel Roberts, Hull City Council's Assistant Head of Service
for Sports Development, said:
"The funding from Sport England will enable us to provide much
needed activity in the north of the city, in some of our poorest
communities, where women's activity levels are really low. Sport
helps improve people's lives in so many ways.
"Working with our colleagues from NHS Hull and with local
communities we look forward to breaking down the barriers to
participation such as lack of childcare, information and
appropriate local opportunities to help local women play sport and
have fun!"
Jennie Price, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said:
“For many women with children or those managing a tight budget,
sport – and time to themselves - can slip down the list of
priorities. 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.”
Today’s announcement was welcomed by the Minister for Sport and
the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP and Gail Emms - one of Britain’s
greatest ever badminton players, who won World Championship Gold
and Olympic Silver medals.
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.”
Gail, who became a mum nine months ago with the arrival of
Harry, said:
“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.”
Notes to Editors
Sport England is focused on the delivery of a mass participation
legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We invest
National Lottery and Exchequer funding in organisations and
projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots
sport and create opportunities for people to excel at their chosen
sport.
Reaching over 1200 women in a three year period, Active Women in
Hull will engage adult women in sport and physical activity.