Scottish Cycling has unveiled its inaugural Women & Girls Strategy during Scottish Women and Girls in Sport week at the West Lothian Cycle Circuit. This strategy, supported by Sports Minister Ms. Maree Todd and Paralympic champion Jenny Holl, aims to significantly increase female participation in cycling, addressing the current gender imbalance in the sport.
Despite women constituting over 50% of Scotland’s population, they are underrepresented in cycling, mirroring a broader trend seen in many sports. While there has been a rise in women’s participation, Scottish Cycling is committed to hastening this progress. The organisation already has various initiatives to promote cycling among females, but the new strategy outlines a cohesive approach for the entire organisation and the cycling community to drive substantial change.
At the strategy launch event, Minister Maree Todd expressed her enthusiasm for initiatives like Women & Girls in Sport Week and highlighted the importance of encouraging more women and girls to engage in sports. Scottish Cycling’s Chief Executive, Nick Rennie, emphasised the significance of this strategy in accelerating efforts to boost female participation.
Paralympic champion Jenny Holl commended Scottish Cycling for its dedication to enhancing diversity within the sport, particularly among women and girls. She noted the growing support for women’s cycling in Scotland and the need to facilitate access to the sport for all interested individuals.
Following extensive consultation with stakeholders earlier this year, Scottish Cycling has streamlined its strategy into five key focus areas – Ride, Race, Role Models, Recognise, and Relationships. Each element plays a crucial role in achieving the organisation’s targets by 2027, including a 30% increase in female members and event entries, a 10% enhancement in retention within the Performance Pathway, and a 20% rise in coach numbers.
The strategy not only outlines the vision and steps towards achieving it but also includes an Action Plan with detailed interventions and annual targets to monitor progress. By uniting the cycling community and collaborating with partner organisations, Scottish Cycling aims to realise its goals for increasing female participation in cycling by 2027.
The launch of the Women & Girls Strategy marks a significant milestone for Scottish Cycling, demonstrating its commitment to promoting inclusivity and diversity within the sport. With the support of key stakeholders and the cycling community, Scottish Cycling’s efforts are poised to drive a positive impact on female participation in cycling across Scotland.