Barbara has called on the Government to take more action to ensure that more girls and young women in Salford and nationally can take part in sport and fitness activities.

Barbara is the co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women’s Sport and Fitness and she was speaking in a Westminster debate on Outdoor Sports and Recreation. In the debate, Barbara pointed out that only 24% of women in Salford take part in sport or fitness activities once a week, compared to 39% of men in Salford. This is lower than both national and North West averages for women taking part in sport.

Barbara said:

“I am very concerned about the impact on the health of women in Salford that 76% of them do not take part in sport or other fitness activity once a week. We know there are many practical and social barriers stopping girls and women from taking part in sport. But we also know that many women who are inactive actually want to play more sport if it was accessible for them to do so.

“Too many young girls see sport as something that is not for them and this needs to change so that more girls and young women can get the health benefits from taking part in sport or fitness. Government should be helping schools and sport clubs to work together to widen the access to different sports and activities for girls and women. In the debate I urged the Minister to take action and I hope the Conservative-led Government starts to do more to help increase the participation of women in sport in Salford.”