Facilities
Access to convenient and safe facilities, with suitable amenities is important for attracting and retaining women and girls.
Better supply and access to facilities is generally associated with increased sport participation. 39
Access to convenient, clean, and safe facilities, with suitable amenities (e.g., toilets and change rooms, disability access, childcare) is important for attracting and retaining women and girls in sport. 21, 22, 40, 41, 42
Equitable access has also been raised in several reports and guidelines, including a tendency in some facilities to prioritise youth and men’s teams over women’s teams who may only have access to secondary training and playing facilities. 43, 44, 45, 46, 120
Resources and reading
- How to make your spaces safer for women: A call to action from the 51%, opens in a new tab, This Girl Can/UK Active, (May 2023). Research was commissioned to gain a deeper understanding of women's experiences in fitness and leisure settings, and what actions they want the sector to take to make them feel safer. The research found that four in 10 (42%) women surveyed had experienced some form of sexual harassment or intimidation, and this rises to 83% among 16–24-year-olds. The key findings of this research are included in this new guidance along with recommendations on how to create a safe environment for women. Although many gyms and leisure centres have already taken steps to ensure women feel safer within their facilities, we wanted to ensure the guidance covered all aspects of what women shared with us about their experiences and therefore this guide covers a range of advice, from basic to more complex steps.
- Female Facilities, opens in a new tab, Play Football, (accessed 3 March 2023). Equal access to facilities that support and enhance participation is critical for women’s sports at all levels, from grassroots through to elite. Not only are the facilities vital, but also the policies and procedures to ensure the club culture is focused on equal and fair access. Consider some of the following:
- Female players have equal access to the facilities and equipment and are not allocated late evening time slots for training or always the second’s ground
- Gym equipment is suitable for use by females such as availability of light weights
- Change rooms have lockable doors on cubicles (or shower curtains)
- Club facilities are clean and hygienically presented, not expecting women to clean them
- Sanitary disposal bin placed in every toilet
- Adequate lighting in the car park
- Invite women and girls to provide input into how to improve facilities
- Operate ‘buddy’ system to ensure all female participants get to their cars at night after training and social functions
- How to improve your services for women and girls: as told by the 51%. Insights to action: a practical guide, opens in a new tab, This Girl Can/UK Active, (November 2021). Our action plan identifies five steps to help and support women and girls through practical and emotional challenges, and enhance their experience of the fitness and leisure centre setting. Barriers to engagement can often overlap and become conflated when women and girls are asked what prevents them attending this type of setting. This action plan cuts across these obstacles to provide solutions which can address several barriers at a time.
- Female friendly sport infrastructure guidelines, opens in a new tab, Victorian Government, (2017). Historically sporting facilities have been designed primarily to meet the needs of male participants. Today, community sport and recreation facilities are becoming outdated and, in a vast range of venues, do not provide the range of amenities that attract and sustain women and girls throughout their life. To encourage more women and girls to become active and involved in sport and active recreation, user-friendly facilities are required.
- Brighton + Helsinki Declaration: Principle 2 – Facilities, opens in a new tab, International Women’s Group, (2014). Women’s and girls’ participation in sport and physical activity is influenced by the extent, variety and accessibility of facilities, especially spaces which are safe and secure. The planning, design and management of these should appropriately and equitably meet the particular needs of women and girls in the community, with special attention given to the need for child care provision, safe transport and safety during participation and performance.
- State of Play Survey 2022-23, opens in a new tab, Change our Game, Victorian Government, (June 2023). Between October and November 2022, more than 670 Victorians answered questions on a range of topics relating to gender equality in sport, including values and behaviour in community sport, elite sport, sports media and coverage, leadership opportunities and perceptions, and experiences working and volunteering in sport. The State of Play Survey revealed that overall, while there are some positive attitudes towards women and girls in sport and their right to equal opportunities and access, change is still required in terms of underlying attitudes and behaviours. Consistently throughout the survey, men were less likely than women to perceive gender inequality in various aspects of sport. In relation to facilities some of the key insights were:
- 28% of women have considered leaving their club due to inequitable treatment.
- Women are 2.5x more likely to report feeling unwelcome at their sporting club compared to men.
- Of people who played community sport, women were less likely than men to agree that club facilities were shared equally between men and women or that the main playing venue was shared equally.
- Make Space for Us, opens in a new tab, Women in Sport, (July 2022). This research, commissioned by Yorkshire Sport Foundation, is an important first step to understanding how teenage girls feel about being active outdoors in their local parks and green spaces. Girls use parks less and face many barriers to exercising. This comes from a lack of understanding of their needs in park design and the way society sees and treats them when they get there. These stifle enjoyment and limits their right to enjoy the wealth of health and wellbeing benefits of being active in the great outdoors. By listening to girls the report found:
- Twice as many girls as boys feel unsafe exercising in their local park (49% cf. 26%)
- Only 34% of girls enjoy exercising in their local park compared to 63% of boys
- 73% of girls say feeling watched puts them off exercising in the park
- 78% of girls say a lack of toilets and changing facilities make parks undesirable spaces
- Men as Allies: Supporting women and girls in community sport, opens in a new tab, Randle, E., Harris, M, Marshall, S., et al., La Trobe University, GippSport, Victorian Government: Change our Game, (2022). The sporting community is working hard to improve gender equality. Men, because of their power, influence and positions, have an important role as allies in levelling the playing field for women and girls. An ally is any man willing to advocate for, and speak up in support of, women and girls; even though they may personally benefit from existing gender inequality. This research provides practical tools to support men to be allies for gender equality in all aspects of community sport. For facilities advice includes: Support and advocate for dedicated spaces, restrooms, changing rooms and amenities that ensure privacy, safety and accessibility.
- Final Report Girls in Action Sports Project (GASP), opens in a new tab, Verity Cleland, et al., University of Tasmania supported by Tasmanian Government, (June 2021). The Girls in Action Sports Project (GASP) 2 was designed to better understand the enablers and barriers for girls in three male-dominated action sports – mountain biking, skateboarding and surfing. Lack of facilities for girls, in particular toilets (especially when girls are menstruating) were highlighted in several points.
- Females and physical activity What the research shows, opens in a new tab, VicHealth, (2019). Create female-friendly environments Consider females’ needs when designing or updating activity spaces, such as parks, leisure centres/gyms, courts and pools2. For example, improving facilities, such as lighting, security and private and family changing rooms, and offering childcare, hair driers and well-lit mirrors, can help women feel safer, more comfortable and welcome. Changing the layout of activity spaces, such as adding doors, partitions or curtains, or using private rooms for classes, can make females feel less exposed and judged when exercising. Running smaller groups also helps females feel less exposed. In addition, having female-only staff, classes and gyms may help females feel more comfortable and encourage them to be more active.
- The 2018 Tucker Center Research Report, Developing physically active girls: An evidence-based multidisciplinary approach, opens in a new tab, Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, (2018). Facilities are primarily covered as part of the Environmental Barriers (p.17) highlighting Facilities and Programming, Safety, Proximity, Cost, Male Dominated, Lack of Sensitivity, although there are some other references throughout the report as well.
- Her Life Depends on It III: Sport, Physical Activity, and the Health and Well-Being of American Girls and Women, opens in a new tab, Staurowsky, Ellen J.; De Souza, Mary Jane; Miller, Kathleen E., Women’s Sports Foundation, (2015). Third edition of a comprehensive report that reviews existing and emerging research on the links between participation in sport and physical activity and the health and wellbeing of American girls and women. Not really specific to women and facilities but highlights this case study: Having facility support for programs was found to have a positive impact on the amount of time girls participated in physical activity in a study that examined the degree to which schools were open to sharing facilities with community programs. For schools that entered into arrangements with afterschool community programs, there was an increase in the number of minutes girls engaged in after-school physical activity.
- Go Where Women Are, opens in a new tab, Sport England, (2015). An in-depth look at engaging women and girls in sport and exercise, by exploring our current understanding of women, their relevant motivations, barriers and triggers to getting more active, and what this means for sports and exercise activities and initiatives.
- Team sports, running, walking: activity-specific associations with perceived environmental factors in adolescents, opens in a new tab, Dias AF; Fochesatto CF; Crochemore-Silva I; et al., Ciencia and Saude Coletiva, Volume 27(5), pp.1975-1988, (May 2022). This study aimed to analyze the association between the practice of different types of physical activity (PA) with perceived environmental factors in boys and girls adolescents. Were evaluated 1,130 adolescents from Porto Alegre, Brazil. To evaluate different PA, students answered whether or not they practiced walking, running, team sports, and others general PA. Perceived environmental factors were assessed through Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y). Analyses were performed using logistic regression. Adolescents who reported perceiving a distance up to 20 minutes to walking/running track, had their chances of practicing all types of PA increased in the total sample and for girls. For walking, it was also found an association with access in adolescents. For girls, it was found an association between shortest distance to indoor recreation or exercise facility and other playing fields/court with running and team sports. Aesthetics and road safety were associated with team sports in adolescents. Other general PA were associated with park, bike/hiking/walking trails in the total sample and for girls. Therefore, for each type of PA, specific associations of perceived environmental factors were found.
- Facilitators and Barriers to Physical Activity and Sport Participation Experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Adults: A Mixed Method Review, opens in a new tab, Bridget Allen, Karla Canuto, John Robert Evans, et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 18(18), (September 2021). The need for culturally safe facilities, appropriate activities and inclusive, respectful staff were all described as facilitators and provide important insights for program providers.
- ‘There's a difference between tolerance and acceptance’: Exploring women's experiences of barriers to access in UK gyms, opens in a new tab, L.A. Turnock, Wellbeing, Space and Society, Volume 2, (August 2021). Drawing on 18 in-depth qualitative interviews with female gym staff and gym users, and ethnographic fieldwork conducted in four commercial gyms in the South and South-West of England, this article explores the experiential realities of women seeking to access gym training and the barriers they identify to equal access in these spaces. Findings examine four key ways in which gyms environment and the gendering of this space create barriers to women's access: through the sharp gender segregation of weights areas and emotional barriers crossing into this ‘male space’ creates; through insufficient equipment provision for women's needs and how this raises costs to women's participation; issues with the performance of masculinities in gym space and associated intimidation and harassment in increasingly (hetero)sexualised gym space; and how gym structures create the impression one is always ‘on show’, and subject to scrutiny.
- The environment contribution to gender differences in childhood obesity and organized sports engagement, opens in a new tab, Nogueira H; Costeira E Pereira MM; Costa D; et al., American journal of human biology, Volume 32(2), (March 2020). This study aims to analyze gender-specific associations between sports activity outside of school and obesity, observing to what extent the local built environment contributes to the patterns found. A total of 2253 children aged 6.0-11.0 years were assessed: 49.3% girls and 50.7% boys. Children's weight and height were measured, age and sex-specific BMI cut-off points were used to define normal vs overweight/obesity. Children's organized sports (OS) activity was assessed by questionnaire, and local facilities for children's engagement in OS were analyzed. Logistic regression models were computed, adjusted for confounding variables. Results showed greater overweight and obesity (25.1% vs 20.1%) and lower OS engagement (66.5% vs 73.8%) in girls as well as greater impact of OS engagement on weight status in girls (OR for having a normal weight = 1.434 in girls vs 1.043 in boys). Additionally, opportunities to engage in OS were scarce for girls. The gender gap in children's weight status and OS engagement might be enhanced by an environmental mismatch that undermines girls' opportunities to play sports. There should be more opportunities for girls to engage in their favorite sports as a means to tackle the obesity epidemic and to promote gender equality.
- Women and girls participation in male-dominated sports, opens in a new tab, Rochelle Eime, Aurélie Pankowiak, Meghan Casey, et.al., PASI/Federation University/Victoria University for the Victorian Government, (2020?). Has some quotes from women about their experiences of organisations not providing equal access to facilities/resources for women’s teams. “We [senior women] trained on the same night as the boys. I think it was the under-15s or under-13 boys. So they would get priority over the nets, so we either only had one net or we had to train on the oval without nets.” Or “… the running of the club, and no sanitary bins, and the boys are using that facility before we are and then it’s disgusting.”
- Promoting Team Sport Participation among Older Women, opens in a new tab, Stephanie West, Jill Naar, Julie Son, et al., Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, Volume 37(4), (October 2019). Six themes emerged related to ways P&R professionals can facilitate sport participation for older women: 1) tailored rules, 2) team organization and development, 3) player recruitment, 4) promotion outlets, 5) facilities and resources available, and 6) community and organizational support. Rule modifications were perceived as a way to help older women remain safe and free from sport-related injuries. Regarding facilities and resources, communities were seen as favoring youth sports in terms of funding, equipment, and access to facilities. Parks and Recreation (P&R) agencies are therefore recommended to provide a more equitable balance. Supporting and promoting opportunities for older adults to engage in sport within local communities supports the model of successful aging and promotes LTPA benefits for seniors.
- Associations between environmental attributes of facilities and female participation in sport: a systematic review, opens in a new tab, Hanlon, Clare; Jenkin, Claire; Craike, Melinda, Managing Sport and Leisure, Volume 24(5), pp.294-306, (September 2019). Articles were identified through seven databases and included if female specific results were reported on the association between attributes of the physical environment and sports participation. The search yielded 3118 articles, 24 met the criteria. Most studies were moderate quality and in terms of life stage focused on adolescent girls. Environmental attributes of facilities including perceived safety, convenient location and suitable amenities in sport and school facilities were associated with female participation in sport. Attributes of the physical environment may influence female participation in sport. Conclusions are tentative based on minimal studies in this area. More attention to identify environmental attributes of facilities associated with encouraging female participation in sport across their transitional life stage is required to enhance understanding and guide facility development.
- The implications of female sport policy developments for the community-level sport sector: a perspective from Victoria, Australia, opens in a new tab, M. Casey, J. Fowlie, M. Charity, et al., International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Volume 11(4), pp.657-678, (July 2019). This study examined trends in sport participation among females over a six-year period (2011–2016) within five popular sports, by age and region. It also identified future challenges community sports face in increasing female sport participation. Overall, there was an absence of discussion about gender equity policies or practices in term of facility usage and therefore community sport may need assistance in this area. This is important, as the way in which sports facilities are used is unlikely to change unless the values, culture and practices of sport organisations are challenged.
- The relationship of sport participation to provision of sports facilities and socioeconomic status: a geographical analysis, opens in a new tab, Rochelle Eime, Jack Harvey, Melanie Charity, et.al., Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Volume 41(3), pp.248-255, (June 2017). This study examined the geographical association between provision of sport facilities and participation in sport across an entire Australian state, using objective total enumerations of both, for a group of sports, with adjustment for the effect of socioeconomic status (SES). Better provision of sports facilities is generally associated with increased sport participation, but SES and region are also contributing factors.
- Do light sport facilities foster sports participation? A case study on the use of bark running tracks, opens in a new tab, J. Borgers, B. Vanreusel, S. Vos, et al., International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Volume 8(2), pp.287-304, (2016). Generally, not only running experience but also socio-demographic variables, such as gender and age, appear to play an important role in explaining patterns of use of BRTs. That is, in comparison to general running, where men are overrepresented compared to women (e.g. Scheerder et al. 2015), women seem to be more eager to use BRTs than men. As this may be related to the need for a safe social climate for sports participation among women (Shenassa et al. 2006), this is an important feature to take into account from a policy perspective. The fact that patterns of use differ with regard to age also confirms that the provision and promotion of sport facilities should be adapted to the specific life phase of participants.
- Socioecological factors potentially associated with participation in physical activity and sport: A longitudinal study of adolescent girls, opens in a new tab, Rochelle Eime, Meghan Casey, Jack Harvey, et.al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 18(6), pp.684-690, (November 2015). The access to facilities score significantly increased within each cohort over time and between cohorts, indicating that access to PA opportunities increased steadily throughout adolescence. Other evidence suggests that a greater number of available PA facilities is associated with increased PA levels. More specifically, access to facilities along with family support have been found to be strong mediators specifically between the association between socio-economic status (SES) and club sport participation. Studies have also reported that for adolescents, the number of nearby facilities and number of nearby parks correlates positively with their PA. This is supported by Scott et al. who states that both the individual facility perceptions and the total number of facilities perceived was associated with increased PA for adolescent females. Our study showed that as girls aged fewer perceived that there was a lack of opportunity or resources for PA. This was in contrast to a cross-sectional study in the United States that reported that as young people aged (from Grade 7 to University freshman) they were more likely to identify a lack of community opportunities (e.g. lack of specific sports team to join/participate in) and resources (lack of facilities/variety of facilities) for PA. This difference may be due to the dominance of the club sport system in Australia compared to the United States.
- Barriers to women’s participation in sport and active recreation, opens in a new tab, Dhirender Kaim, International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health, Volume 2(1), pp.96-98, (August 2015). The literature shows that the participation of women and girls in sport and active recreation fluctuates throughout the lifecycle. At different stages of life, many events and factors appear to negatively influence women’s and girls’ participation. The literature had also shown that there are many different barriers of women’s participation, and the barriers to girls’ and adolescents’ participation. These barriers are identified through a review of literature. 3.9 Lack of facilities A lack of community facilities is a barrier to participation. 4.4 Poor access to or availability of venues and places to participate and a lack of appropriate facilities for women Poor access to venues, including venues with appropriate facilities, is a barrier to participation for young women, disabled women and rural women. Poor access can be compounded by a lack of transport and a lack of information on available facilities. A lack of physical access to premises and a lack of venues and facilities with suitable equipment are barriers for disabled women. 4.9 Cultural factors and social norms Cultural factors can also exacerbate the experience of other barriers, such as competing priorities, lack of facilities, lack of access to programs, and lack of leisure companions.
- Proximity to Sports Facilities and Sports Participation for Adolescents in Germany, opens in a new tab, Anne Reimers, Matthias Wagner, Seraphim Alvanides, et al., PLOS One, (March 2014). A sample of 1,768 adolescents aged 11–17 years old and living in 161 German communities was examined. Distances to the nearest sports facilities were calculated as an indicator of proximity to sports facilities using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Participation in specific leisure-time sports activities in sports clubs was assessed using a self-report questionnaire and individual-level socio-demographic variables were derived from a parent questionnaire. The logisitic regression analyses showed that girls residing longer distances from the nearest gym were less likely to engage in indoor sports activities; a significant interaction between distances to gyms and level of urbanization was identified. Decomposition of the interaction term showed that for adolescent girls living in rural areas participation in indoor sports activities was positively associated with gym proximity. Proximity to tennis courts and indoor pools was not associated with participation in tennis or water sports, respectively.
- The correlates of sports participation in Europe, opens in a new tab, Paul Downward, Fernando Lera-López, Simona Rasciute, European Journal of Sport Science, Volume 14(6), pp.592-602, (2014). The provision of sports facilities is of more importance for males, which may indicate a male-oriented nature of the sports facilities, for example, the gym. However, the number of adults and the number of children in the household reduce the probability of sports participation by females. Therefore, higher provision of childcare may be important if female participation is to be increased.
- Women's snowboarding – some experiences and perceptions of competition, opens in a new tab, Sisjord, Mari Kristin, Leisure Studies, Volume 32(5), pp.507, (December 2013). This article focuses on female snowboarders' experiences with, and perceptions of, snowboard competitions. The article is based on a study conducted at an international women's snowboard camp. The purpose of the camp was to discuss strategies for promoting females' participation in the snowboard organisations and in snowboard competition. Interviews were held with eight participants aged 18–31 years. Most of the participants had been previously involved in competition. Their experience had been both negative and positive. Most of the participants perceived snowboard facilities (Big air and Half-pipe) as being too large for females and a possible constraint on participation. Moreover, the study's findings reveal ideas concerning alternative competition formats as well as arguments for ‘women-only’ sessions as a feasible way to reach more female snowboarders, to provide skill enhancement, and to increase participation in the competitions. The findings are discussed in light of the development of snowboarding and Bourdieu's theoretical framework.
- Family support and ease of access link socio-economic status and sports club membership in adolescent girls: a mediation study, opens in a new tab, Rochelle Eime, Jack Harvey, Melinda Craike, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Volume 10, Article number: 50, (2013). The results of this study indicate that participation in club sport among both younger and older adolescent girls is strongly positively associated with the SES of both their neighbourhoods and their households, particularly in metropolitan areas. These associations are most strongly mediated by family support and by access to facilities. Consequently, in order to facilitate and promote greater participation in club sport among adolescent girls from low SES neighbourhoods and households, strategies should target modifiable determinants such as facility access and parental support. This will involve improving access to sports facilities, and promoting, encouraging, and assisting parents to provide support for their daughters’ participation in sports clubs. Strategies could include an educational social marketing campaign targeting parents that emphasises the positive health benefits of sports club involvement and the key role that parents play in promoting and facilitating this involvement. An educational program and resources outlining these sports club benefits to parents and adolescents could also be based at secondary schools. Sport and recreation facility planning at the local and state government level also needs to be sensitive to the needs of women and girls.
- Balancing safety and autonomy: structural and social barriers affecting the exercise participation of women with disabilities in community recreation and fitness facilities, opens in a new tab, D.E. Rolfe, K. Yoshida, R. Renwick, et al., Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, Volume 4(2), pp.265-283, (2012). A lack of accessible facilities within the community has been identified as a major limiting factor to exercise participation among women with disabilities. To increase exercise participation among women with disabilities, we need to understand the structural and social barriers that they face within community recreation and fitness facilities. These findings suggest that simply removing structural barriers and providing ‘accessible’ equipment is not sufficient to truly increase facility accessibility. Although accessibility features within the built environment of community facilities (e.g. elevators, pool-chair lifts and grab bars) can provide increased safety and accessibility to participants, a lack of maintenance and/or inadequate staff training in their use may limit women’s autonomous use of facilities. Training of staff members to work with women with disabilities is also necessary to address social barriers to women’s exercise participation in community recreation and fitness facilities.
- Fair Access Policy Roadmap, opens in a new tab, Victorian Government, (August 2022). Is set to deliver equitable access to publicly owned community sports infrastructure across the state, helping to level the playing field for women and girls in community sport.
- Football Her Way, Football Victoria’s Vision for Women and Girls Football, opens in a new tab, Football Victoria, (September 2021). Football Victoria will collaboratively drive #FootballHerWay by positively impacting our culture, values, policies, planning, practices and programs with each of us committed to annually achieving our strategic outcomes. Includes Facilities as a key strategic outcome.
- Her Sport, Her Way strategy, opens in a new tab, NSW Government, (2021). Stakeholder consultations provided many stories about female teams and individual athletes not receiving equal access to playing spaces, training venues and appropriate sport programs and other resources such as equipment. Even when women and girls received access to the best quality facilities, they were often scheduled at the worst times. Entrenched attitudes and unconscious bias, particularly around traditionally male sports, have influenced resource allocation and limited the opportunities for women and girls.
- Women's Participation in Sport and Recreation in Melbourne's West | Action Plan for change 2020-2025, opens in a new tab, Victorian Government, (2020). Provides strategic direction to partners on challenging the gendered barriers to women’s participation in sport and active recreation. Strategic priority 2: Welcoming Facilities: Plan and deliver physical environments with equitable access to facilities and spaces for women and girls to participate and enjoy their involvement in sport and active recreation.
- Infrastructure Strategy, opens in a new tab, NSW Football, (2020). Talks about now being the time to invest in improved football facilities for girls and women to accompany the growing demand we are experiencing. “Historically established and ageing facilities not catering for all gender use, and not adequately supporting participation by women and girls”. Historically for football, facilities have been primarily designed to meet the needs of male participants, but to encourage more women and girls to participate in sport today as a player or official, more user-friendly facilities are required. (p.18 has some examples).
- Gender Equity in Recreational Sport: Optimizing Facility Use, opens in a new tab, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA), (accessed 3 March 2023). Traditionally, and still today, prime time slots (e.g., ice time) as well as prime facilities (e.g., best fields) are often given to traditional male sports programs, thereby limiting access to facilities for girls and women. Further, just as important as access is the need to improve facilities in a way that addresses the design and maintenance elements that are valued by girls, women and gender diverse individuals in order to help them feel welcome and safe and eager to return. CPRA has designed this Toolkit to address the issues of facility use and design, not using a “one-size-fits-all” approach, but rather by focusing on building the capacity of recreation practitioners and community sport leaders to better understand their community’s unique characteristics and needs and determine how their organizations can meet these needs.
- Participation Planning Tool, opens in a new tab, NSW Office of Sport, (accessed 3 March 2023). Sections on Facilities and Access provides information and resources relating to female friendly facilities and access recommendations.
- ukactive and This Girl Can launch practical guide for gyms and leisure centres to support more women and girls to be active, opens in a new tab, ukactive, (November 2021). The guide, called ‘How to improve your services for women and girls: As told by the 51%’, is designed to help gyms and leisure facilities to reduce the barriers experienced by many women and girls who would like to be more active – with the title reflecting the fact that women make up over half of the population.
- Gender Equity in Recreational Sport: Optimizing Facility Use workshops, opens in a new tab, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA)/YouTube, (2022).
- WORKSHOP #1: Creating a Strong Culture and Shared Commitment, opens in a new tab, (17 February 2022). This workshop focused on: Creating a Welcoming Environment (apart from the physical infrastructure, which will be addressed in the Facility Design workshop); Intersectionality – helping service providers understand how to serve girls, women and gender diverse people who have overlapping identities, characteristics, and experiences; The concept of Social Hubs and Disrupting Social Norms.
- Workshop #2: Understanding How Facility Design Can Attract and Encourage Use, opens in a new tab, (29 March 2022). This workshop focused on: Facility infrastructure design that is universal (“gender mainstreaming”) and/or gender-friendly in nature and Methods to “make the case” for facility design changes (small changes, retrofits, new builds) in support of gender equity to a variety of stakeholders (e.g., funders, current participants, senior volunteers and staff).
- Workshop #3: Evaluating Outcomes Best Questions and Data, opens in a new tab, (31 March 2022). This workshop focused on: Outcome evaluation in general with specific application to gender equity initiatives and understanding the impact of this work.
- WORKSHOP #4: Gender Equity in Recreational Sport: Optimizing Facility Use, opens in a new tab, (1 April 2022). This workshop focused on: exploring non-traditional ways of understanding the community and, specifically, those who do not typically participate in recreation and Creative engagement of partners to optimize recruitment and retention of those women and girls who are not currently participating in local recreational sport.
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