Barriers to participation for our target groups of women

Projects must address the most prominent barriers to participation in sport faced by women in disadvantaged communities or women caring for children under 16.

Research from the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation indicates that there are significant emotional barriers to sporting participation for women in both target groups, notably low levels of body confidence. One of the main motivations for existing participants in both groups is a stated desire to lose weight.

In addition research suggests that the practical barriers for women in disadvantaged communities include:

• The cost of admission
• The length of facility opening hours
• The lack of someone to go with

The barriers faced by women caring for children under 16 include:

• The need to find support with childcare. For many existing participants one of the main motivations is taking their children
• Difficulty in finding the time, with competing priorities and interests meaning that sport is not the most important
• The quality of ancillary facilities – e.g. café, changing rooms, childcare;
• The length of facility opening hours

Local circumstances will also dictate what sporting activities will be most appropriate to a particular community.

Applications should reflect an understanding of the barriers relevant to the project’s local area. This can be achieved by carrying out consultations with potential participants.