The Equal Sport Project has been launched, a new initiative aimed at improving equality and ensuring the United Kingdom becomes a global leader in sport for women and girls. The project is supported by the Football Association (FA), Team GB and England Netball, which are among the key organisations involved in the initiative.
Research by Sporting Insights showed that fewer than 1 per cent of women working in sport believe that gender equality has been achieved across the industry. More than half of women in sport consider that they are paid less than men for doing the same job.
The Equal Sport Project has identified five areas where improved leadership, investment and action will have the greatest impact on gender equality in sport. These are equal access to sport for girls in school, equal relevance, reach and revenue for women’s sport, an equal workforce in sport, governance structures redesigned for equality, and equal access to sports facilities.
Several organisations have already committed to concrete steps. Aquatics GB and the FA have committed to prioritising women’s leadership programmes. Sport England and UK Sport have committed to working with their funding partners to ensure their governance is designed by men and women, for men and women. The Youth Sport Trust has committed to supporting schools in recognising and challenging stereotypes and developing male allies to advocate for gender equality in physical education, school sport and physical activity.
The project is also supported by the UK government. Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock stated that progress in sport for women and girls is visible, but that a long way still remains. The government supports women’s sport at all levels, from hosting the Grand Depart Tour de France Femmes 2027 and the bid to host the FIFA Women's World Cup 2035, to investing £400 million in local sports facilities, doubling priority access to football pitches for women and girls, and chairing the Women's Sport Taskforce.
The government will, as announced, work closely with the Equal Sport Project and encourage all organisations to get involved.
