Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she plans to take to help support participation in sport by girls from a young age.

The Government is committed to ensuring children and young people, including girls, have opportunities to participate in sport. Ensuring children have the best start in life is crucial to raising the healthiest and happiest generation ever.

We are introducing a new approach to PE and school sport, which will ensure girls have equality of access. In addition, the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign, run by Sport England, encourages women and girls to get active, regardless of their shape, size or ability. The campaign’s related initiatives such as Disney Dance Alongs and Move for 10 are encouraging more women to get active with their children. The Government’s Let’s Move campaign is also helping families discover simple, fun ways to get children moving more everyday.

Government’s £400m investment into grassroots facilities over the next four years has a key objective of increasing access and participation levels for girls. £85 million is being invested in 2026/27, with 30% of priority pitch slots reserved for women’s and girls’ teams.

We are also using the Women’s Sport Taskforce to support the sector to collectively drive a Decade of Change in women’s sport, and tackle the challenges and barriers facing women and girls from grassroots to elite.