Urdd Gobaith Cymru / What is #FelMerch

- What is #FelMerch -

#FelMerch is a new project by the Urdd Sports Department, supported by Sport Wales, which has been established specifically to inspire, support, and empower young women and girls to keep active and break down the barriers that prevent women and girls from participating in sport

What the research says...

According to new research by Always more than half (55%) of teenage girls do not keep active, and three quarters (75%) feel more support is needed to keep them in sport.

Recent research by Sport Wales into the nation’s activity habits and behaviours also show that the pandemic appears to have widened inequalities in sport participation across gender and socio-economic status. Women reported doing less sport than before Covid-19, feeling guilty about not exercising more and were worried about leaving the house.

How will #FelMerch break down the barriers...

Arranging weekly face-to-face or digital activities.
Establishing regional and national forums for women and girls.
Using ambassadors to inspire others, including national ambassadors such as Wales and Bristol fly-half Elinor Snowsill.
Providing a leadership training programme for girls.
Offering holiday activity HUBS for young women and girls.
Arranging a national workshop-based conference to share achievements and ideas.

Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip, Dawn Bowden MS, welcomes the announcement: “I recognise that more needs to be done to close the sport and physical activity participation gaps between males and females, and to focus on providing more good quality opportunities for girls and young women to take part in sport. I’m delighted to support Urdd Gobaith Cymru’s project “#FelMerch”; it will have an important part to play in encouraging participation in sporting activity, regardless of ability, and in creating safe environments in which to do so.”

Siân Lewis, Chief Executive of Urdd Gobaith Cymru, says: “Being active and participating in sport improves mental as well as physical health, raises confidence and self-esteem, and can also lead to educational attainment. We are therefore determined to ensure that Welsh women and girls are offered more opportunities within their communities to participate in sport and physical activity, in safe and accessible spaces.”

Sarah Powell, Sport Wales Chief Executive, adds: “Making exercise and sport appealing to women and girls, as well as understanding any barriers to participation, continues to be a key priority for us. We’ll be supporting our partner’s efforts to build on the good progress that was being made pre-pandemic to think creatively when developing high quality opportunities for women and girls to enjoy.

“It’s only natural that some people will be a little anxious about going back to activities alongside others, so I’d like to reassure anyone who feels concerned that a huge amount of work has gone into making activities safe and welcoming. More than 1,000 sports clubs and organisations across Wales have benefited from funding during the last year to help them make adaptations and introduce a range of measures to keep you safe.”