Women and girls invited to free sports festival in Birmingham this summer
Sport 4 Life UK is inviting women and girls from across Birmingham to take part in a free Women’s & Girls Sports Festival this July.
The sports festival is designed to break down barriers to participation and create more opportunities for women and girls to get active.
The event is taking place on 4 July from 12pm to 2pm at Avery Fields, Birmingham with the festival offering a wide range of activities including boxing, basketball, netball, dance and more - all delivered in a fun, supportive and welcoming environment.
The event is open to women and girls aged 14-40 and aims to encourage participants of all abilities to try something new, build confidence and connect with others through sport.
No registration is required, with attendees simply encouraged to turn up and get involved.
The festival forms part of the newly launched West Midlands Women's Sports Network, a pioneering initiative led by Sport 4 Life UK in partnership with Women in Sport and supported by The JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls.
Earlier this year, the project received a £115,000 investment, supported by Mayor Richard Parker, to help tackle the barriers that prevent women and girls from participating in sport and physical activity, particularly in underserved communities across the region.
Research consistently shows that women and girls face greater challenges in accessing sport, including confidence, cost, safety concerns and a lack of suitable opportunities.
The Women's Sports Network has been created to address these issues by increasing access to sport while also creating pathways into leadership, mentoring, training and employment opportunities for young women.
In the UK, approximately 313,600 fewer women than men are regularly active, with four in 10 women not meeting recommended activity levels, according to Sport England.
It is well-evidenced that sports participation helps reduce the risk of common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which is rising among young people and affects approximately one in four women in England.
Rebecca Meah, women and girls network lead, Sport 4 Life UK, said: "Sport has the power to transform lives, but too many women and girls still face barriers that prevent them from taking part.
“This festival is about creating a welcoming space where participants can try new activities, meet new people and experience the positive impact sport can have on confidence, wellbeing and community.
“We want every woman and girl who attends to feel that sport is for them."
The event is expected to bring together women and girls from across Birmingham for an afternoon of activity, fun and connection, while showcasing the opportunities available through the wider Women's Sports Network programme.