6 Leading Scottish Sports OrganisationsCommit to Advancing Gender Equity inSport at SW/S Conference

The International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport is proud to announce that six prominent Scottish sports organisations have signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, reaffirming their collective commitment to creating a sustainable and equitable sporting culture for women and girls.

Together, they have joined a network of over 700 signatories globally dedicated to sharing knowledge and driving systemic change. The multi-signing event took place on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, during the “Innovation in Sport: The Future is Now” Conference.

For Scottish Women in Sport (SW/S), who hosted the signing, the Declaration aligns directly with their mission to empower female leaders and influence policy.

Driven by their 2021 ‘Women in Leadership’ research, which highlighted the lack of diversity and inclusion across leadership roles, SW/S in 2022 launched the Young Women in Sport Leadership (YWISL) initiative in partnership with Scottish Action for Mental Health. This transformative programme proactively places young women at the heart of decision-making and seeks to redress the imbalances of the male-dominated sports leadership landscape.

Maureen McGonigle, CEO of SW/S, noted the power of this collective action:

"Everyone involved in SW/S believes in our vision – a world where women and girls have equal and fair opportunities in sport – and being part of a wider network with the same vision gives us strength and hope for the future of women and girls in sport."

This vision of equitable opportunity is shared by Boxing Scotland, which has seen record female representation at the elite level, including their first ever female medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

To give more women and girls the opportunity to fulfil their potential, they have introduced the "Begin to Box" programme, creating a welcoming and accessible entry point for those without previous experience. This supportive environment provides clear paths forward to progress within the sport, while simultaneously building strong pipelines of female coaches through targeted funding from sportscotland.

Marianne Crichton, Chief Operating Officer at Boxing Scotland, shared:

"At Boxing Scotland, we want women and girls not only to participate in our sport, but to have the opportunity to progress, compete and lead at every level. Becoming a signatory strengthens our commitment to that ambition and connects us to a global network working to create lasting and meaningful change for women and girls in sport.”

Similarly committed to breaking down systemic barriers at all levels of their sport, Scottish Cycling launched a dedicated Women & Girls strategy in 2024.

Their national "Rock Up and Ride" programme is a testament to the organisation’s dedication to growth and improvement. By providing free access to bikes and fun cycling sessions, the initiative now sees over 40% female engagement, challenging traditional membership trends.

Michelle Borland, Chair of Scottish Cycling’s Women & Girls Committee and NED, stated that signing the Declaration publicly reaffirms their responsibility to drive sustained change, following the launch of a specific Women & Girls Strategy in October 2024:

"Scottish Cycling is committed to advancing gender equality and providing opportunities for more women and girls to participate, progress and achieve in cycling. By signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, we are reinforcing our commitment and aligning ourselves with a global network of like-minded organisations.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Squash is fostering inclusive environments through targeted,

evidence-based interventions as part of their commitment to embedding gender equity directly into their Equality Action Plan. This includes "HIIT Squash," an accessible programme designed by women, for women, which also equips participants with the skills to lead sessions in their own communities.

Paul Macari, the Scottish Squash Chief Executive Officer, said:

"At Scottish Squash, we believe gender equity is essential to the future growth and sustainability of our sport. Becoming a signatory to the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration reinforces our commitment to turning that belief into meaningful action while learning from and contributing to a global network working towards the same goal."

For Tennis Scotland, the focus extends from grassroots participation to the workforce, all the way up to executive leadership.

The organisation is proud of its impressive near 50-50 gender split across 85,000 club members. Proactive and meaningful gender equity policies are at the heart of this achievement, with equal prize money across all competitive events, targeted CPD for women in the workforce, and a fast-tracked programme to develop female tennis coaches across the country.

Denise Irvine, Director of Operations at Tennis Scotland, affirmed:

“Tennis Scotland are committed to opening tennis and padel up and making them welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring for all women and girls who want to get involved. By signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration we affirm our commitment to doing everything we can to encourage more female participation while enhancing opportunities and visibility in all areas of

our work.”

Finally, Weightlifting Scotland is actively challenging the historical, male-dominated narrative of their sport through the highly successful "Scottish Women in Olympic Lifting" (SWOL) initiative. Providing sold-out introductory sessions and mock competitions, the programme is building a strong community of female lifters, coaches, and officials.

As part of their long-term commitment to changing perceptions, SWOL has enabled an uptick in participation and reinforced the importance of creating visibility at all levels of the sport.

Sarah-Anne Duncan, Competition Director for Weightlifting Scotland, noted:

“Through initiatives such as SWOL, we are breaking down barriers and creating pathways for women and girls to participate, develop, and thrive in weightlifting. Becoming a signatory demonstrates our commitment to sharing learning, championing female role models, and driving meaningful change alongside organisations across the world.”

Annamarie Phelps, Co Chair of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport, expressed her enthusiasm for the joint signing:

"It is fantastic to see such a strong, unified commitment from these six leading Scottish organisations following the Scottish Government becoming a signatory ahead of the Commonwealth Games, creating the opportunity and environment for a whole system approach to women’s sport across the nation.

“By signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, they are not only holding themselves accountable to creating meaningful change at home, but also joining a global network and movement dedicated to advancing opportunities for women and girls in sport everywhere."