New research by Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign has revealed that only one in 10 women from lower-income backgrounds feel they completely belong in the world of physical activity – highlighting deep-rooted barriers to inclusion, affordability and tailored support.
The insights find that for women on lower incomes from underrepresented groups – including Black women, Asian Muslim women, pregnant women, new mothers, and older women – the challenges and feelings of not being included are even greater.
After marking the 10th anniversary of This Girl Can at the start of this year, Sport England is launching a new campaign phase – ‘Belonging Starts with Inclusion’ – which agitates for the change needed for all women, from all backgrounds, to feel that they belong in the world of sport and physical activity.