Agenda item

The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submits a response report on actions into the findings of encouraging women into sports and physical activities.

The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submitted a report setting out a range of findings, following a period of community and industry consultation, also providing recommendations to support the industry to engage, and encourage more women to participate in sport and physical activity.

The Chair of the Task Group, Councillor Halford, made some initial comments.  She thanked everyone involved and highlighted how the report showed how the Council could improve women’s participation in sport and break down barriers.  She stated that she was pleased that the findings from the work would help to inform the forthcoming Sports Strategy.

The Deputy City Mayor for Climate, Economy and Culture added that proper access to sport was important for women and girls and that a significant amount of work was ongoing.

The Head of Sports Services and the Sport & Active Recreation Development Manager introduced the report.

The report and the following points were noted:

• Both locally and nationally, women were less likely than men to participate in sport.
• Active Leicester had facilitated the responses to recommendations from internal and external Council departments with some contributions from external partners.  Key points included:
  • Committing to using female role models in marketing techniques and moving towards behavioural change in marketing techniques.
  • The continuation of the recruitment academy which had been successful in reaching female workers.  A stand-alone website was being developed for women to be profiled more relevantly and would have a section dedicated to physical activity.
  • The strategy would continue to be monitored.  This was a priority area and key for development.
  • A Health and Wellbeing hub was committed to being piloted at a Council leisure centre, looking at new ways of working to reach out to the local community, especially to women and girls who may not otherwise come to a leisure centre.
  • Relationships were continuing to be forged with internal and external partners to encourage women and girls to participate more.
• Different Council departments and key stakeholders were involved to promote opportunities for women and girls.
• There was still a deficit in women’s engagement in sports and this needed to be worked on.

• The reference to posters showing ladies swimming in burkas would be clarified.
• Attention was drawn to the ‘This Girl Can’ Campaign and its success.  Additionally, attention was drawn to the 50% gender split in staffing.
• It was suggested that good practice in other Local Authorities could be taken into account.
• A breakdown of the data into both ethnicity and age groups was suggested to allow these factors to be considered in the Strategy.
• There was a need to encourage girls in sport through education.
• In terms of monitoring participation of women and girls in sport, Sport England conducted the Active Lives survey, using a small sample of 200-500 people twice per year.  Whilst this sample was not specifically female, conclusions could be drawn for women and girls based on this.  In addition to this, a public Health and Wellbeing survey was being conducted using a sample of 2000 people in the city.  This allowed for greater detail than the Sport England survey.
• The issue would come back to Scrutiny in terms of the process of delivering and implementing the Active Leicester Strategy Action Plan
• In terms of budget, there was no dedicated money attached to the Strategy.  The strategy would be a guidance document for stakeholders on the way of working aimed at getting the inactive population more active by using resources more efficiently.   Strategy and recommendations would be determined looking at how to work together in terms of improved representation and better marketing, support and leadership, rather than about a budget.
• Leisure Centres did have a budget and as such there would be an impact if there was a reduction in the services of leisure centres.  There would be ongoing challenges, but more could be achieved without necessarily having more resource. 

The Chair thanked those involved.

AGREED:

1.    That the Executive response report be noted.

2.    That a report on various bodies that could promote women’s engagement in Sport (i.e. the NHS or Universities) be produced, possibly with a Board to look into this.

3.    That good practice in other authorities be considered in the Strategy.

4.    That other groups with protected characteristics be considered such as those that participate in disability sport.

5.    That indicators for success be established.