Want to stay up-to-date with the latest news, insights, events and more from IWG Women and Sport and the wider IWG network? Published monthly, the IWG Newsletter curates information on the recent work of IWG, new signatories to the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, a selection of the most recent case studies and research projects added to the IWG Insight Hub, and global events, webinars, conferences and more.
IWG is always interested in featuring content from the wider IWG Network around the world, so if you’d like to share some news, let the network know about an upcoming event or webinar, disseminate learning or research, or celebrate an achievement, please get in touch via info@iwgwomenandsport.org.
Scroll down to read the latest issue of the IWG Newsletter below, or catch up on previous editions in our online newsletter archive.
IWG Newsletter Archive
Content includes: IWG x British Embassy Paris ‘Women in Sport’ discussion event, Paris 2024 Olympic Games recap, update on the UK Department for Business and Trade Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator.
Content includes: Opinion piece: How equal are the ‘gender equal’ games? Plus World Netball and 2GAP sign the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, IWG engages with new UK government and the latest news from the network.
Content includes: World Rowing sign the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, Opinion piece: we need more men to support furthering gender equality in sport, Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe recognised in King’s Birthday Honours.
Content includes: IWG celebrates its Pearl Anniversary, announcing the recipients of the Anita White Fund, the launch of the first IWG Webinar.
Content includes: IWG at SportAccord, free download of new IWG book, UK Sport Pregnancy Guide for Athletes, Same Game gender equality in the classroom toolkit, Women Sport Africa Network leadership recruitment.
Content includes: information on booking to the first IWG Webinar ‘Celebrating 30 years of IWG Women and Sport’, and a link to the event recording to watch again.
Content include: IWG meets the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, England Golf sign the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, Rupinder Bains joins IWG Steering Group, IWG and TAFISA start collaboration discussion.
Content include: Announcing the date of the 2026 Global Summit, IWG AGM in Costa Rica, Kuwait Women in Sport Leadership, Montenegrin Olympic Committee signs Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration.
Read the latest issue of the IWG NewsletterWatch the IWG Women in Sport event at the British Embassy Paris, and IWG is recruiting for a conference producer
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Welcome to the IWG Newsletter
|
|
IWG Women and Sport is the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equity and equality in sport, physical education and physical activity.
|
|
 |
IWG Women and Sport Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe has received an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her services to sport.
|
|
|
A message from Lisa O’Keefe
|
|
When working through the IWG’s four-year strategic plan, it was non-negotiable for me that ‘Insight’ would be a key priority for the Secretariat, with the aim to have a curated IWG Insight Hub drawing together the world’s best knowledge and tools, making them available and accessible to all.
I am delighted that – after a lot of work behind the scenes – we were able to relaunch our Insight Hub resource this month, with improvements to functionality as well as plenty of fantastic new content sourced from across the IWG Global Network.
This is the place to go if you’re looking for the best research, case studies and tool kits to support your own gender equality objectives. We would really value any feedback on how we can further improve the site and equally we would welcome your content contributions – please get in touch via info@iwgwomenandsport.org
Also this month, we added two more signatories to our Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration. British Water Ski and Wakeboard have spent the summer hosting women and girls’ taster sessions, having identified a clear gender gap within their sport. They are a great example of a small Federation not only recognising the need to take proactive steps to tackle the current gender gap but also working with its members and centres across the country to develop a solution.
The UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) were the next Federation to sign, and it was interesting to hear how their commissions have worked with external advisors to not only create much needed research and plug knowledge gaps, but also ensure the findings are accessible and understandable to all.
Finally, with less than two years to go now until our IWG Global Summit, we are recruiting for our Summit Organising Committee. Chaired by our UK Steering Committee member Clare Barrell, Director of International Relations and Member Services at World Rugby, the Summit Organising Committee will work with the small IWG Secretariat, including an Event Producer, and will lead the design and delivery of specific elements of the scope to support the IWG Team. If you are UK-based and able to offer us your support and expertise, we would love to hear from you.
Lisa O’Keefe MBE
Secretary General, IWG Women and Sport
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
IWG at SAWAF National Advocacy Conference
Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe MBE delivered a keynote speech at the South African Women and Sport Foundation National Advocacy Conference
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Join: Global Summit Organising Committee
IWG is recruiting for members to join the Organising Committee that will help plan & deliver the IWG Global Summit taking place in Birmingham (UK) in July 2026.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
British Water Ski & Wakeboard signs Declaration
BWSW signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration during a special women and girls taster session in Surrey, UK.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
UIAA signs Brighton Declaration
The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation becomes the latest International Federation to join the network.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
IWG Insight Hub Relaunched
IWG is delighted to relaunch the IWG Insight Hub which is designed to empower and advance gender equity and equality for women and girls in sport and physical activity worldwide.
The IWG Insight Hub is home to a world-leading collection of research, case studies and toolkits which the IWG’s network has contributed to, providing global insights across the key themes of Data and Research Methodologies; Safeguarding; Resources and Investment; Governance; Visibility and Portrayal; Leadership; Social Change; Active Lives and High Performance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gender Equality in Coaching Toolkit
This toolkit has been created by the SCORE programme team, to be used by any organisation to recruit, develop or retain women in their coaching workforce, at any level.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator
Launched by the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), this is a programme for bringing together UK based sports rightsholders seeking investment with industry experts and sports investors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helping Women and Girls to Get Active
Created by Sport England, this is a downloadable guidance document containing advice, suggestions, hints and tips for those looking to help women and girls in their local area become more active.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Peter Muir, President of the UIAA, shares his thoughts on the importance of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, and how the Federation plans to support, enable and promote women in climbing and mountaineering.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whanake o te Kōpara Impact Report
An award winning leadership development programme for young women, it aims to amplify the strengths of the individual, enabling them to uplift themselves, their community and the sector that surrounds them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Tucker Centre Lecture
The Physical Activity of East African Girls & Women: The Ripple Effect of Community-based Research, at the University of Minnesota. Tuesday October 8th, 6.30 – 8.00pm. Free and open to the public.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
World Rugby – Impact Beyond 2025
The Impact Beyond 2025 global programme from World Rugby aims to capture the long-standing positive impact of Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women in Rugby League Leadership Workshop
This workshop will take place on the 6th and 7th November at the Santos National Football Stadium, Boroko, Papua New Guinea. It aims to create a network of female leaders by equipping them with knowledge of gender equity and good governance. See flyer in image for contact information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women’s Participation in Sport Across Europe
A report by ENGSO (European Organisation for Grassroots Sport) taking an intersectional approach to explore the lived experiences of women who are marginalised by multiple structures of oppression.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
English (UK) 
العربية