Vote here

Press releases

To get in touch with the WSFF Press Office please telephone Harriet Foxwell on 020 7273 1744 or email harriet@wsff.org.uk.

• 3rd December 2009
  WSFF Celebrates 25 Years in Womens Sport
  Dame Kelly Holmes has taken the title of Britain's favourite sportswoman followed by Paula Radcliffe and fellow Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell. That's according to *research by the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) to mark its 25th birthday and the launch of its new report which tracks a quarter century of records from women's sport and the hurdles which still need to be tackled.
• 18th November 2009
  Womens Sport Loses Out in Free-to-air Review
  David Davies has missed an opportunity to raise the profile of women's sport in his review of free-to-air sports according to the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF).
• 11th November 2009
  New Drive to Boost Number of Women Playing Sport
  Sport England is today announcing a £10 million National Lottery funding round to encourage 'Active Women' - in a drive to get more women from disadvantaged communities, and women caring for children, playing sport
• 24th September 2009
  Physical Activity Key To Fight Against Young Womens Low Self-Esteem
  Exercise can play a powerful part in helping young women tackle negative body image and low confidence according to new research.
• 23rd September 2009
  The Womens Sport and Fitness Foundation Appoints Mother and Generate
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) has appointed Mother and Generate to support its first national consumer campaign, planned to launch next summer.
• 10th September 2009
  WSFF Hopes That Women's Football Has Scored Beyond England's Success in Finland
  Ahead of today's conclusion to the European Championship, the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) is hoping it's more than a place in the final the England women's football team has won.
• 13th August 2009
  IOCs Decision Packs a Positive Punch For Womens Sport
  Today's decision by the IOC to put women's boxing on the Olympic stage is being celebrated by the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF).
• 12th August 2009
  WSFF Urges the IOC to Box Clever Regarding Gender Equality
  Ahead of Thursday's announcement regarding women's boxing at London 2012, the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) has written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) calling for gender equality across the Olympics and Paralympic Games.
• 14th July 2009
  Forest Ladies Reclaim Victoria Trophy after 8-year wait
  Nottingham Forest Ladies yesterday won the senior section of the Victoria Trophy, the largest five-a-side tournament in the UK for women and girls, for the first time since 2001.
• 14th July 2009
  England Ladies Enjoy Downing St Reception
  Prime Minister Gordon Brown today paid tribute to the England women's team following their unprecedented five months of international success: winning the World Cup, the ICC World Twenty20, a 4-0 win over Australia in the Natwest Series and a draw in the one-off Test to retain the Ashes.
• 22nd June 2009
  ICC World Twenty20 2009 Champions
  Giles Clarke, the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, hailed Charlotte Edwards' England team after they beat New Zealand to win the inaugural ICC Women's World Twenty20 in front of a crowd of 15,000 at Lord's Cricket Ground.
• 1st June 2009
  THE SUNWALK NEWCASTLE IS BACK
  Breast cancer charity Walk the Walk is delighted to announce that The SunWalk Newcastle, a new Power Walking charity challenge for the North East will be returning to Exhibition Park on Sunday 19th July.
• 22nd March 2009
  England Win ICC Women's World Cup
  The England Women's cricket team, led by inspirational captain Charlotte Edwards, today won the ICC Women's World Cup after beating New Zealand by four wickets at the North Sydney Oval.
• 21st March 2009
  England Women crowned RBS 6 Nations Champions
  England Women retained their RBS 6 Nations crown on Saturday at London Welsh RFC, and in doing so became the first women's team to ever record four back-to-back Six Nations titles.
• 16th February 2009
  WSFF Welcomes Call for Gender Equality by Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) welcomes Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell's call for gender equality in the Olympics and Paralympics.
• 1st January 2009
  The Womens Sport and Fitness Foundation Appoints New Chair of Trustees
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) has appointed Hugh Chambers as its new Chair of Trustees. His role at WSFF will see him Chair the board, whilst applying his experience in marketing communications and sports sponsorship to help advise the charity's work increasing physical activity among women and girls.
• 24th November 2008
  High Street Holds the Answer to the Crisis in Womens Sport
  Four out of five women would play more sport if it were more like shopping at Marks and Spencer and Primark
• 1st September 2008
  Jessica Taylor Launches Campaign to Sweat in the City
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) has announced Sweat in the City (www.sweatinthecity.co.uk), an innovative research project designed to win a better understanding of how to motivate women to become more active. Run in partnership with the Fitness Industry Association (FIA), Sweat in the City is offering 3,000 16 - 24 year old women who live in London and currently do little or no exercise, a unique package of free and mentored gym membership. The programme's ambassador, Jessica Taylor, officially launched the programme today (1 September).
• 21st July 2008
  Commission to Address Crisis in Womens Sport Announced
  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham, MP, will tomorrow (Tuesday 22 July) announce the Commission on the Future of Women's Sport, a new, independent body set up to address the current crisis in women's sport. Including Dame Kelly Holmes, Ed Smith, Heather Rabbatts and chaired by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, the Commission shall be made up of senior figures from sport, politics, business, academia and media to tackle the issues outlined within the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation's (WSFF) annual Women in Sport Audit.
• 5th March 2008
  WSFF BOOST GIRLS WITH ENERGY
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) today launched an education initiative for schools across the country, in a bid to tackle the increasing levels of physical inactivity amongst young girls. The 'Energy Project', a collaboration with the Helen Storey Foundation and Creative Partnerships London East and South, has been designed to increase energy levels, by experimenting with ways to build physical activity into the whole school day looking at breakfast clubs and break time as well as during lessons.
• 14th December 2007
  Holiday contact details
  WSFF offices will be closed between December 22nd 2007 and January 1st 2008 inclusive. For any urgent business or media enquiries please call Cassie Smith on 07860 823523. Seasons greetings to you all.
• 4th December 2007
  Gritty new drama tackling youth culture and football scores high acclaim
  A new play tackling the youth culture surrounding football has proved a massive hit in schools across the UK. Full Time tells the story of a group of young people who play football. It aims to provoke debate about society and the game, and through this challenge attitudes relating to sexism, racism and homophobia.
• 28th November 2007
  'Changing the Game of Women's Sport' exhibition opens in London
  'Changing the Game of Women's Sport', an exhibition curated by Nike to celebrate and elevate the profile of some of the country's finest sportswomen - their strength, passion and individuality - opened today in central London.
• 17th October 2007
  Eid Sports Festival
  The Muslim Women's Sport Foundation will be holding an Eid Sports Festival on 27 October from 10.30am to 4.30pm in Watford - please refer to the following link for further details - http://www.mwsf.org.uk/eid_sports_festival.html
• 10th October 2007
  Debbie Jevans to address conference crowd
  Debbie Jevans, Director of Sport, London 2012 Organising Committee to address Raising the Game: the Future for Women's Sport conference on November 15th at the Emirates Stadium.
• 10th October 2007
  Rivals come together to support One Game, One Community
  Rivals come together to support One Game, One Community week of action Local football rivalries will be put aside when players from Birmingham and Aston Villa FC join young people from the West Midlands for a day of educational activities at St Andrews Stadium this Tuesday (16th October).
• 20th September 2007
  Ethnic Minority Women to set out goals in the game
  The involvement of one of the most excluded groups in football will be discussed at English football's headquarters next month. A summit examining barriers to the participation of ethnic minority women in football will take place on Monday 22nd October at The Football Association Headquarters in Soho Square, as part of the 'One Game, One Community' Week of Action.
• 1st August 2007
  Half-time for women's sports coaching initiative
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation's (WSFF) Women into Coaching 2 - London (WiC2) programme celebrates not only its first anniversary today but, one year into the two-year programme, 50% of the 200 course spaces available have been filled.
• 4th July 2007
  WSFF welcomes The FA's announcement on mixed football
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation welcomes the announcement of a one year trial which will look at the effects of extending mixed football for the 11 to 14-year-old age group. This ultimately means that girls like Minnie Cruttwell will be able to continue to play with their local club.
• 26th June 2007
  28 million pound income is ignored as Charlton cut their women's team over financial woes
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSF) regrets Charlton's decision, today, to cut the funding from their women's football team and pass the buck onto a private sector sponsor. They have explained that the decision is the result of their relegation, but the upcoming transfer of Darren Bent - rumoured to be around £17 million - and incoming 'parachute payments' - rumoured to be around £11 million - mean Peter Varney's concerns, over finding £100,000, come up against a completely different backdrop.
• 26th June 2007
  28 million pound income is ignored as Charlton cut their women's team over financial woes
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) regrets Charlton's decision, today, to cut the funding from their women's football team and pass the buck onto a private sector sponsor. They have explained that the decision is the result of their relegation, but the upcoming transfer of Darren Bent - rumoured to be around £17 million - and incoming 'parachute payments' - rumoured to be around £11 million - mean Peter Varney's concerns, over finding £100,000, come up against a completely different backdrop.
• 27th May 2007
  ***Updated*** Mixed football is a great first step but now we need the same commitment to progress the women's game
  The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation welcomes the announcement today, by the FA, to consider extending mixed football for the 11 to 14-year-old age group. This ultimately means that girls, like Minnie Cruttwell, can continue to play with their local club after the after the age of 11.
• 5th April 2007
  WSF urges sports world to welcome more women and girls into sport
  Friday April 6th 2007 heralds the arrival of a key piece of legislation with the potential to change the face of women's sport for generations to come. The long-awaited Gender Equality Duty (GED) comes into force tomorrow, and places a statutory obligation on all public authorities to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and eliminate discrimination and harassment.
• 19th March 2007
  England women crowned RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam champions
  England Women were crowned the RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam champions for a second consecutive year on Saturday after an emphatic 30-0 victory over Wales at Taff's Well RFC.
• 15th March 2007
  Kennedy reaches landmark cap total
  Scotland Women's captain, Donna Kennedy, will win her 100th cap for her country on Sunday (18 March) as she takes the field against France for the final game of the 2007 RBS 6 Nations Championship.
• 8th March 2007
  UK women fall at first hurdle in International Sport Stakes
  As International Women's Day dawns, new research by the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) reveals UK women to be some of the least active in the world.
• 7th March 2007
  Women Still Under-represented in sporting Roles
  Only one in five women take part in regular sport and active recreation This is one of the key findings as UK Sport today publish their 'Women in Sport - The State of Play' report, examining the role of women in terms of participation, performance & excellence and leadership. The purpose of the report, the only one of its kind in the UK, is to raise awareness of any inequalities that women face at all levels and, in turn, to influence sports policy.
• 22nd February 2007
  WSF welcomes AELTCs long over-due decision to provide equal prize money for men and women
  The Womens Sports Foundation (WSF) today welcomes the announcement that the All-England Lawn Tennis Club will pay equal prize money to men and women at this year's tournament.
• 7th December 2006
  New figures reveal the shocking gender divide in sport
  Findings from the new Active People survey - released today by Sport England - confirm the long-held view that women's participation in sport and physical activity is at a disturbingly low level.
• 6th December 2006
  WSF welcomes FA charges for Mike Newell
  The Womens Sports Foundation today welcomes the charge of improper conduct handed down by the FA, to Mike Newell, in relation to his comments on assistant referee Amy Rayner on 11th November.
• 13th November 2006
  WSF condemns comments from Mike Newell
  WSF today condemns the distasteful comments made by Luton manager Mike Newell, relating to Amy Rayner, after the game with QPR.
• 3rd November 2006
  New Chief Executive for the Womens Sports Foundation
  WSF welcomes its new Chief Executive, Sue Tibballs. As a new member of the WSF team, Sue brings her experience as a campaigner in the voluntary sector; as a consultant to government and the United Nations; as Campaign Manager at the Body Shop International; and most recently as Projects Director and board member of the consumer think tank, the Future Foundation.
• 27th October 2006
  'In Conversation with Clare Balding' at the WSF AGM
  Spend an evening with former Sports Presenter of the Year, Clare Balding at the Womens Sports Foundation AGM on Thursday 16th November at their Head Office in central London. Currently one of the BBC's most well known faces Clare will share her experiences as a high profile woman in sport and the media and her role as a WSF Patron.
• 27th October 2006
  WSF welcomes news that Sky Sports will broadcast the Netball Superleague.
  A new deal will bring the first regular coverage of domestic netball on British TV. Featuring international stars from England and the other home nations, the Netball Superleague is the most prestigious netball competition in the Uk. A total of 17 matches will be shown from the tournament, starting on Thursday 30 November.
• 19th October 2006
  The WSF welcomes: The Fair Game - A chance to speak to England Women's Football Captain
  The parks and football fields of England are full of children trying to emulate the likes of Beckham and Rooney but soon it may be the name of England Womens captain, Faye White that is written on the backs of their replica shirts.
• 25th July 2006
  Womens football scores winner with MP's
  Following today's publication of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee report into women's football, the WSF has fully endorsed the recommendations made by the group. They wholly support the establishment of a task force to produce a blueprint for the future of women's football and look forward to being involved.
• 20th July 2006
  One hundred more years of hurt
  The WSF today published a report outlining that the coverage women's sport in the national and regional print media has increased by a mere 1.5% over the last three years. With the pace of change in coverage so excruciatingly slow, it is predicted that women's sport coverage will not receive the space, detail, consistency and prominence of men's sport until 2106.
• 19th May 2006
  Sporting Equals releases £1 million for sport
  Sporting Equals, the UK's leading initiative for promoting racial equality in sport, has announced today that it will be distributing £1 million in grants through the Sport for Communities project.
• 24th February 2006
  Women denied chance to shine in top sport positions
  The most alarming statistic outlined in a new report published today shows that women are ignored in three out of four decision-making positions in sport.
• 24th February 2006
  REPORT: Women denied chance to shine in top sport positions
  UK STRATEGY FRAMEWORK - Progress made towards objectives and targets set for 2005 and analysis of the current situation for women and sport.
• 7th November 2005
  It's not all bad news - girl's do enjoy being active!
  New research published today shows that girls do enjoy doing PE and sport!
• 7th November 2005
  Older women's views on physical activity
  Groundbreaking new research was published today by the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF), which has highlighted some interesting views of older women and their physical activity behaviour.
• 24th October 2005
  What Works for Women?
  A new and innovative website has been launched today by the Womens Sports Foundation to help sports deliverers increase physical activity levels among women and girls in the UK.
• 19th April 2005
  New Coaching Opportunities for London's Women
  "This is a fantastic opportunity for women and complements the UK Vision for Coaching within London. An amazing opportunity that should not be missed!"
• 15th March 2005
  Women in Sport in the East of England Research
  The WSF has recently released research examining sport and physical activity for women and girls across the East of England.
• 14th March 2005
  Women still missing out on top jobs
  Women continue to be under-represented on the decision-making boards and committees of British sporting bodies according to a new report complied by WSF on behalf of UK Sport.
• 16th February 2005
  Victory parade on the way?
  A CRICKET WORLD CUP, a football European Championship (WOMEN'S EURO 2005), and an Ashes test series - it's a sensational season ahead for England's women.
• 25th November 2004
  FA formally announce plans for England's Euro 2005
  The Football Association has today announced its plans to bring a prestigious European sporting event to the North West of England, with five venues hosting games next June. The 6th UEFA European Women's Championship will be staged from June 5-19 2005.
• 18th November 2004
  WSF's internal conference inspires record attendance
  "Truly inspirational", "the best conference that I have ever been to", just two of the comments received from delegates following the recent WSF conference at Trent Bridge, Notts.
• 15th November 2004
  Call to stop marginalisation in sport at Equality Standards launch
  Issues regarding the nation's long-term state of physical and social health were at the heart of the launch of the UK Equality Standard for Sport.
• 11th November 2004
  MP's back new approach to fighting physical inactivity
  The WSF launched their much anticipated SPA campaign last week at a reception packed with Olympic athletes, media representatives and key Members of Parliament.
• 11th November 2004
  Why is physical activity such a turn-off?
  Groundbreaking new research begins this week in a bid to uncover why the nation's women are universally failing to participate in enough sport and physical activity.
• 3rd September 2004
  We could have beaten Germany!
  WSF has a vision for Beijing - if the same number of women compete as men we have a potential 6 more medals to win, finishing above Germany in the medals table.
• 2nd April 2004
  Womens Sports Foundation's New Look, New Space
  Following an incredibly exciting year with continued work alongside the media, politicians and sports agencies, the WSF has announced that it will be re-locating offices as of April 19th 2004.
• 15th March 2004
  Shouting Loud for Womens Sport
  Womens' sport is receiving a timely boost in parliament and the media following the recent re-launch of the Womens Sport Foundation.
• 11th February 2004
  Laura Davies to appear in the ANZ tournament, Australia
  The WSF today welcomed the media focus on one of Britain's most consistently outstanding sports stars, Laura Davies.
• 19th November 2003
  Womens Sports Foundation slams appalling media coverage of female sport in Britain
  A damning new report released today by the Womens Sports Foundation has revealed the massive disparity between media coverage of mens and womens sport in Britain.

Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation
3rd Floor, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1B 4SE
Registered Charity No. 1060267
Site Map | Accessibility | Privacy