Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she to encourage more (a) women and (b) women of minority backgrounds into (i) sports coaching careers and (ii) voluntary roles.

We are dedicated to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, are able to participate in sport and physical activity.

Coaches play an important role in facilitating sporting activity and acting as a source of encouragement for people to remain active. UK Sport’s female Coaches Leadership Programme resulted in the number of women coaching in Olympic and Paralympic sport to double since 2020.

Sport England has also supported the voluntary sector by developing a vision for volunteering, which sets a clear and ambitious direction to increase the diversity of volunteers in sport and physical activity.

Karen Carney’s 2023 review of women’s football highlighted the lack of representation of individuals from diverse backgrounds throughout women’s football both on and off the pitch. The Football Association released its 2024-28 strategy for Women and Girls’ Football in October, which includes a commitment to increase the number of players and workforce from underrepresented communities within all roles in the game. We will continue to monitor progress here.