The 2022 UEFA European Women's Football Championship and participation of girls and young women in sport.
On 9 November, Munira Wilson MP led a Westminster Hall debate on the participation of girls and young women in sport.
To inform the debate, she asked to hear about your experiences.
She highlighted points raised by contributors, quoted several stories directly, and thanked those who took part:
If you took part in this activity, please answer two quick questions about your experience:
The debate
The Government's response
Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society Stuart Andrew MP responded to the debate on behalf of the Government, addressing several relevant policies and issues.
Watch or read his full speech for details on a range of topics including:
- Plans to name sites after players in the England Women’s Team in the towns and cities that shaped their careers, in collaboration with the Football Foundation and the Football Association (FA).
- A £230 million investment between 2021 and 2025 to improve grassroots multi-sport facilities across the UK. Projects are chosen for their ability to deliver improved facilities in deprived areas and increase participation among currently under-represented groups.
- An independent review of the future of women’s domestic football, chaired by former England and Great Britain footballer Karen Carney.
- Sport England's Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, published in December 2021, was conducted throughout the 2020-21 academic year and contains some data about the relative activity levels of boys and girls (ages 5-16).
- Initiatives which aim to increase participation:
This Girl Can, a nationwide campaign run by Sport England, which seeks to get “women and girls moving, regardless of shape, size, and ability”.
The FA’s Shooting Stars, delivered in collaboration with the Youth Sport Trust and the National Literacy Trust, which uses storytelling to inspire girls to get physically active (ages 5-11).
The FA Girls’ Football School Partnerships – supported by Barclays which focuses on ensuring girls in England have equal access to football in schools by 2024.
Barclays Game On (developed by the Youth Sport Trust) which uses football to develop life skills for young girls in secondary school.
- A commitment to working with the Department for Education to review the barriers preventing girls from getting access to two hours of Physical Education.
- Plans to publish an update to the 2019 school sport and activity action plan. This will set out actions to improve PE teaching in primary schools, and support schools to make better use of their facilities.
Introducing the debate, Munira Wilson MP gave the following statement:
"It’s coming home! The Lionesses’ triumph in July had me and my daughter jumping up and down on the sofa. It was amazing to take her to her first football match a few weeks earlier.
"I want England’s heroics to have a lasting legacy for our girls and young women. In my debate, I’ll be asking Government Ministers how we can widen girls’ access to sport during and after school.
"I also want to protect playing fields and other community sports facilities so that all our children have a chance to play."
What is a Westminster Hall Debate?
Westminster Hall debates take place in the Grand Committee Room in the House of Commons.
They give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.
How Parliament works: Westminster Hall debates.
How your contributions are shared
In these exercises, members of the public who have signed relevant petitions or are subscribed to related parliamentary newsletters are invited to share their experiences and ideas.
These are passed on to the MP leading the debate, who may refer to them directly in their speeches.
Find other petitions on the Petitions website, or see more examples of public contributions being used in debates below.
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for latest info on free activities online and around the UK to help you get involved and make a difference.
What happens next?
If you shared your email in the survey, we’ll send you an update after the debate with links to watch it, read the transcript, and information about the Government's response.
House of Commons Library
The Library is a research and information service based in the UK Parliament. Its impartial analysis, statistical research and resources help MPs and their staff scrutinise legislation, develop policy, and support constituents.
Some recent publications are listed below. See the latest research and analysis on sport at commonslibrary.parliament.uk.
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
The Committee scrutinises the work of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and its associated public bodies.
Find out more about the Committee’s cross-party membership and role.
Relevant inquiries from MPs on the Committee:
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