Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Inquiry into female participation in sport and physical activity
Background
The Committee’s inquiry into the health and wellbeing of children and young people highlighted a significant decline in participation of girls in sport and physical activity as they reach adolescence. This can have a significant negative impact on their physical health and mental wellbeing. Based on these findings, the Committee agreed to undertake an inquiry into sport, looking specifically at barriers to female participation, including the intersectionality of additional barriers to participation, such as ethnicity and disability.
It was agreed the inquiry would focus on participation at both a community and elite level and would consider issues around how female sport is supported, reported, and promoted.
The Committee aims to identify actions that should be taken to help increase the numbers of women and girls participating in sport and physical activity, and crucially what can be done to ensure they are able to remain active and engaged throughout their lives.
Your views
The call for views closed on 9 December 2022.
Read the summary of responses (1023KB, pdf) posted 07 February 2023
Watch video: Breaking Barriers
A video submission from Daisy Drummond on the challenges young women face in sport, undertaken as part of Daisy’s media studies exam.
Read the video transcript (57KB, pdf) posted 12 April 2023
Engagement
Oral Evidence
14 March: The Committee took evidence from—
Katie Heath and Jenni Snell, Young Women Lead Committee, The Young Women’s Movement
Papers for the meeting on 14 March 2023
Minutes for the meeting on 14 March 2023
21 March: The Committee took evidence from—
Kirsty Garrett, Sports Development and Physical Activity Manager, Glasgow Life
Kate Joester, Policy and Influencing Coordinator Scotland, Living Streets Scotland
Euan Lowe, Chief Executive, Scottish Swimming
Patrick Murphy, Senior Manager, South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture
Cecilia Oram, Head of Behaviour Change, Sustrans Scotland
Papers for the meeting on 21 March 2023
Minutes for the meeting on 21 March 2023
28 March: The Committee took evidence from—
Rona Blackwood, Head of Programmes, Children's Parliament
Eilidh Paterson, Inclusion & Culture Development Coordinator, Scottish Student Sport
Dr Mairi Stark, Scottish Officer, Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health
Papers for the meeting on 28 March 2023
Minutes for the meeting on 28 March 2023
18 April:
Priyanaz Chatterji, International cricketer
Lee Craigie, Retired professional mountain bike racer and Director, The Adventure Syndicate
Eilidh Doyle, Retired track and field athlete and Board of Directors, Scottish Athletics
Gemma Fay, Retired international footballer
Connie Ramsay, Retired Commonwealth judo champion
Papers for the meeting on 18 April 2023
Minutes for the meeting on 18 April 2023
25 April:
Bobby Hain, Managing Director of Broadcasting, STV
Catherine Houlihan, Managing Editor, ITV Borders
John McLellan, Director, Scottish Newspaper Society
Margaret Mary Murray, Head of BBC Gaelic Language Services and Inclusion, BBC Scotland
Catherine Salmond, Editor, The Herald
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning, BBC Scotland
Papers for the meeting on 25 April 2023
Minutes for the meeting on 25 April 2023
23 May:
Ewelina Chin, CEO, HSTAR Scotland, representing BEMIS
Lynne Glen, Pathways Manager, Scottish Disability Sport
Baz Moffat, CEO and Co-founder, The Well HQ
Robert Nesbitt, Head of Physical Activity and Sport, SAMH
Heidi Vistisen, Policy Manager, LEAP Sports Scotland
Papers for the meeting on 23 May 2023
Minutes for the meeting on 23 May 2023
30 May:
Kim Atkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Sports Association
David Ferguson, Chief Executive, Observatory for Sport in Scotland
Flora Jackson, Health Improvement Manager, Public Health Scotland
Maureen McGonigle, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Women in Sport
Ailsa Wyllie, Lead Manager, sportscotland
Papers for the meeting on 30 May 2023
Minutes for the meeting on 30 May 2023
6 June:
Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Scottish Government
Andrew Sinclair, Head of Active Scotland, Scottish Government
Report
The Committee published its report on 9 October 2023.
The Scottish Government's response can be found in the Correspondence section of this page.
The Parliament debated the report on 28 November 2023.