Sport Ireland has launched its first full Women in Sport Policy and has begun the process of determining how €1.5 million will be distributed this year to sporting bodies to further four key pillars.
The Women in Sport funding programme that has been in place for a decade will be replaced by this new funding which was briefed to National Governing Bodies after yesterday’s launch at the National Sports Campus.
“We see ourselves as part of a wider movement behind the cause of Women in Sport that has been evident throughout recent months,” said Dr Una May, Sport Ireland Director of Participation speaking to Sport for Business yesterday.
“We acknowledge and celebrate the many initiatives that are out there and making a difference.”
“The part we can play is to help those sporting bodies who commit to making a long term and sustainable difference through financial backing but also organisational and structured assistance.”
Lynne Cantwell has been appointed as Chair of a new Sport Ireland Women’s Committee that draws on expertise across a variety of fields to help shape how yesterday’s broad policy will be brought into sharp focus.
Individuals like Kelli O’Keeffe of Teneo, Joanne Cantwell of RTÉ, Sarah Keane of the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Swim Ireland and Mary O’Connor of the Federation of Irish Sport will bring heft to back up the soon to be appointed Women in Sport lead that is being appointed for the first time within the organisation.
They will be joined by Sport Ireland Board members Mary Dorgan and Frances Kavanagh, as well as John Fulham, the President of Paralympics Ireland, John Sweeney from the Clare Sports Partnership and Olympian Jenny Egan.
The building blocks they have been given were shaped by a major piece of engagement undertaken by Lisa Clancy and Sarah O’Shea through 2018 and refined into a set of four pillars against which progress will be made and judged.
These are in Coaching and Officiating where the goal will be to broaden both the bases of coaching and refereeing; Active Participation where reducing the gradient between men’s and women’s participation will be key; Leadership and Governance and Visibility.
“The new Women in Sport Policy aims to provide a blueprint for Sport Ireland on the organisation’s future work in the area of women in sport,” said Lynne Cantwell.
“Sport Ireland began an extensive review in 2018, which examined the current landscape of women in sport in Ireland, identifying any barriers to their participation in all areas of sport.”
“Through the hosting of focus groups, gathering and analysing qualitative and quantitative research on women’s involvement in sport, identifying international best practice in the area of advancing involvement in sport, and consultation with key stakeholders on the barriers and opportunities, Sport Ireland has developed this policy which we feel will have a significant impact of the future of women’s sport in Ireland.”
“Together with the new Women in Sport Steering Committee, I look forward to overseeing the implementation of this ambitious policy.”
The new policy is aligned with the Government’s National Sports Policy 2018 to 2027. A key aim of that policy is to have equal participation between males and females in sport. The gap has closed from 15.7% to 4.5% since 2007 according to the Irish Sports Monitor 2017 but there is much work still to do in this area.
The Sport Ireland Women in Sport Policy can be downloaded here
Image Credit: James Crombie, Inpho.ie
