World Wheelchair Rugby (WWR) has taken a landmark step toward gender equity in wheelchair rugby, officially signing the IWG’s Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on March 4. This milestone is further strengthened by the launch of the Wheelchair Rugby Gender Equity Playbook, a transformative strategy aimed at increasing female participation and leadership at every level of the sport.
The Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration is a globally recognized commitment to equity, inclusion, and opportunity for women in sport. WWR’s decision to sign follows its 2022 strategic review, which highlighted the need for greater female representation within the sport.
A Commitment to Action
WWR President Richard Allcroft OBE emphasized the necessity of proactive change:
“We recognised as an organisation that we were not doing enough to include female athletes within our sport. I’ve always been proud that our sport is open to all genders, but it was clear that if we didn’t create change, then we were never going to see enough female athletes taking up the game.
As our strategies were taking shape, this needed to expand to encompass the inclusion of women in leadership positions as well. The signing of the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration and the launch of our Playbooks is a statement that we are not just open to change but committed to making changes.”
Kathy Newman, WWR Director of Development and Competitions and Chair of the WWR Women’s Task Group, reinforced the transformative nature of this step:
“The Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration isn’t just a pledge—it’s a game-changer. When we formed our Women in Sport Task Team, we saw the barriers holding women back. This declaration is breaking them down, driving real change worldwide.
When we invest in women in sport, we don’t just level the playing field—we transform the game for future generations and we change lives.
A future where women have equal opportunities in sport isn’t just possible—it’s happening. The Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration is proof that when we commit to change, we create a legacy of inclusion and empowerment.”
The Wheelchair Rugby Gender Equity Playbook
WWR is not just making a statement—it is taking concrete action. The Wheelchair Rugby Gender Equity Playbook outlines key strategies to:
- Increase female participation through targeted outreach and engagement.
- Develop leadership pathways for women in coaching, officiating, and governance.
- Ensure equitable funding and resource allocation for female athletes.
- Foster a culture of inclusion through policy development and mindset shifts across the sport.
The Playbook provides both a practical guide for local clubs to implement inclusive programming and a strategic framework for national federations and governing bodies. It includes policy recommendations, funding application guidance, and communication strategies to drive systemic, lasting change.
To support accessibility, WWR has also released a one-page summary, highlighting the key objectives of both playbooks.
Lisa O’Keefe MBE, Secretary General of IWG, reflected on WWR’s commitment:
“It’s a great pleasure to welcome World Wheelchair Rugby as the latest signatory of the IWG’s Declaration. IWG was involved in the consultation stage of the playbook and so I saw first-hand their commitment to making systemic change within the Federation in order to make the sport accessible to women and girls at every level.
WWR underwent a thorough process to produce their playbooks, and I’m delighted we can share their brilliant work with the IWG network.”
Learn More & Get Involved
For more information on the the Wheelchair Rugby Gender Equity Playbook, visit WWR’s website or follow @ww_rugby on social media.
العربية 
English (UK)