GPA0006

Written evidence submitted by Girlguiding

1. Overview

1.1.           Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, with nearly 370,000 members. With over 24,000 groups meeting weekly powered by over 80,000 volunteers, we’re active in every part of the UK offering girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference in their communities. We build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We run Rainbows (4–7 years), Brownies (7–10 years), Guides (10–14 years) and Rangers (14–18 years) with a youth membership of over 290,000. Registered Charity No 306016. https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/

1.2.           As the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, our submission is focused on the experiences of girls and young women. We believe all girls and young women should have the opportunity to engage in sport and physical activity and the barriers that stop them should be tackled.

1.3.           Girlguiding believes it is important to promote and support girls’ and young women’s access to sport and physical activity as it provides them with a range of benefits, from having fun to improving their health, wellbeing and confidence. We also want to highlight the importance of children and young people learning to be active through play, adventure and other opportunities in their local communities.

1.4.           Whilst many girls show an interest in sport when they are young, they are more likely to drop sport and have lower activity levels than boys in their teenage years. We would like to see plans to increase grassroots sport and physical activity to consider the experiences and needs of girls and young women equally to those of boys and young men. From what girls have told us, their priorities for action to increase equality in sport and physical activity are:

• Barriers that stop girls and young women participating should be addressed.
• Girls and boys should have equal choices in sport and physical activity in and out of school.
• Women’s professional sport should have the same representation, funding and support as men’s.
• There should be a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment so that girls feel safer to be active
• Adventure should be much for girls and women as it is for boys and men.
• Encourage expert partners to work with Girlguiding, as we’re able to deliver fun activities to almost 400,000 girls across the country, enabling more girls to become active.

2. Our evidence

2.1.           Research we published in May 2022 shows one third (32%) of girls aged 7 to 17 would like more opportunities to play football and more than half of girls (52%) have never watched football in a stadium, compared to 33% of boys.

2.2.           The research also found 69% of girls would like to see women’s football celebrated more in the media and 71% of all children, both girls and boys think female footballers should be paid the same as male footballers.
 

2.3.           Our Girls’ Attitudes Survey, Girlguiding’s annual research into the lives of over 2,000 girls and young women aged 7 to 21 across the UK shows:

• 15% of girls aged 7-10 and 35% aged 11-21 say that having nothing to do in their local area stops them from playing and going outdoors (2019 survey)
• 83% of girls aged 7-21 think there should be an equal amount of men and women’s sport shown on TV (2019 survey)
• 70% say seeing women in sport use their bodies powerfully makes them feel inspired (2020 survey)
• 56% of girls think having less women’s sport on TV than men’s sport sends a message to girls and women that sport is mostly for boys and men (2019 survey)
• 23% of girls aged 7-10 and 27% aged 11-21 don’t feel safe enough to go outdoors to play and have fun (2019 survey)

3. What we’re doing

3.1.           At Girlguiding, we help girls and young women have fun and reach their full potential. We provide our members with activities where they can be active and participate in sport and physical activity in a safe space free from stereotypes. Girlguiding members can earn interest badges in Agility, Dancing, Fitness and Sports.

3.2.           Our partnership with the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 inspires girls and young women to feel excited about football and celebrate that football is for everyone. Our members can take part in free football-themed activities and collect a commemorative badge.

3.3.           We also gave Girlguiding members, including their families, access to affordable tickets to UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 group-stage matches ahead of the general sale, to help more girls see inspiring women playing sport, which we know encourages them to do the same.

3.4.           ‘Football is such a great sport, to play and to watch. I’m so excited Girlguiding and UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 have teamed up to help more girls to get involved. The co-created activities are a great way to introduce girls to the game and get across the important message that football is for everyone, not just for boys.’ - Girlguiding Advocate Caitlyn, 22
 

September 2022