Sky calls for action on girls' sport as it teams up with Alessia Russo

Girls in the UK are missing out on 280 million hours of sport every year - a gap that, if closed, could unlock £6.5bn in economic and health benefits by 2035, according to a new report from Public First, commissioned by Sky.

Featuring contributions from leading voices in sport, including Judy Murray, Helen Glover, Nasser Hussain and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Game Changing: How sport gives every girl a better chance highlights that empowering girls through sport could generate £570m in annual productivity gains and save the NHS £73m a year.

Playing sport as a child is shown to be as strong an indicator of women reaching senior positions as a university degree, yet one in three girls say boys still have wider access to a range of sports.

As part of a bold package of recommendations to close the gender participation gap, Sky is calling for the introduction of a targeted tax relief on the production of women's sport.

With 55 per cent of girls saying that watching professional athletes inspires them to play, the broadcaster is urging the Government to co-invest in the sector's future growth to boost visibility and showcase more female athletes.

As well as calling for reform, Sky is also taking action, partnering with England and Arsenal forward Alessia Russo and UK charity Goals 4 Girls to launch a nationwide tournament for girls, The Alessia Cup, creating opportunities for teenagers from underserved backgrounds to participate in grassroots football.

Dana Strong, Group CEO, Sky, said: "By age 11, nearly one in three girls stop believing sport is for them - proven not to be just a personal loss, but a national one.

"Broadcasters like Sky have a crucial role to play in driving access and visibility of women's sport, but this alone won't close the gap. We need to break down the barriers that tell young girls they don't belong. With bold investment and collaborative action across government, education and media, we can build a future where every girl is welcomed to the game."

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Broadcasters in this country are leading the way in promoting women's sport and giving our outstanding female athletes the platform their talent deserves. But as the findings of this report show, when it comes to accessing sport at all levels, too often women and girls find the same old barriers still in place.

"Through our Plan for Change, this Government is set on breaking them down. It's why we're investing £400m to bring quality facilities to areas that need them most, shaking up the curriculum to give girls and boys the same access to sport in schools and launched a new Women's Sport Taskforce to tackle the biggest challenges, from the grassroots to the elite, head on."

Russo said: "I'm proud to launch The Alessia Cup in partnership with Goals 4 Girls and Sky, giving more girls the chance to play the game I love. Together, we're creating opportunities that build confidence, resilience, and leadership far beyond the pitch."