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Sports: Women

Asked by Callum AndersonLabourDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 24423

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase opportunities for women and girls to participate in sport in rural areas.

Answered by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

The Government is committed to ensuring that as many women and girls as possible have access to, and benefit from, quality sport and physical activity opportunities, including in rural areas.

The Government’s Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, invests in over 90 Place Partnerships in various locations across the country, including in rural areas, to promote sport and physical activity.

Initiatives such as ‘Let’s Get Out There’, developed by Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, are encouraging more women and girls to overcome the barriers to accessing and enjoying rural and natural environments confidently and safely.

We are also introducing a new approach to PE and school sport, which will ensure girls have equality of access. All state-funded schools, including in rural areas, will be able to access specialist support through a combination of universal provision and more targeted local schemes.

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