A new scheme in Scotland is being set to help increase women’s engagement in sport.

The £300,000 Sporting Equality Fund will try to close the gender gap that emerges in early adolescence.

Recent studies have shown that during early teenage years boys are 20% more likely than girls to be involved in sport.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the aim was to increase participation, engagement and promotion of women in sport. The details of the new fund were being set out at the Ladies Scottish Open Forum: Leadership in Business and Sport event.

“We’ve seen some good progress in recent years, and it’s encouraging that activity levels amongst teenage girls are increasing. However, there is still a gender gap in sports participation and physical activity levels. There’s also a shortage of women involved in sport from grassroots right up to elite level,” Nicola Sturgeon said.

She added, “We look forward to working with sportscotland and others over the summer to take this forward and will be announcing more details later in the year.”

Golfer Catriona Matthew said: “As a mother to two young girls, I am delighted to hear about the Sporting Equality Fund which aims to get more women and girls actively participating in sport. Keeping fit and healthy is so important in terms of health, wellbeing, mental strength and social mobility.”

Mel Young, sportscotland’s chair welcomed the new scheme, saying the body was committed to building a “world-class sporting system” for everyone in Scotland.

Source: BBC News