Sport Birmingham are delighted to become the latest organisation to sign the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. By becoming a signatory, Sport Birmingham joins a global network of over 700 organisations committed to advancing gender equity across movement, physical activity, and sport.
The official signing took place on 11th June during the Girls of Brum: Leaders Forum which brought together key stakeholders, community leaders and partners to discuss how Birmingham can continue to create opportunities for girls through sport, physical activity and leadership development. During the Leaders Forum, an expert panel of women spoke about key topics such as inclusion, empowerment and daring to be different! A special thank you to our incredible panel for sharing their stories and insights: Dr Melissa Morrison, Laurie Jamie-Williams, Tracey Francis, Misbah Fayaz, Shimul Haider, Helen Tonks, Laura Entwistle, Lisa O’Keefe MBE, Karenjeet Kaur Bains and Ali Evans for chairing.
Becoming a signatory, reinforces the organisation’s ongoing commitments to gender equity across school and youth sport, participation, leadership, and workforce development. Mike Chamberlain, CEO, stated:
“We have seen some progress in gender equity, but not near enough and not quick enough! Significant gaps still exist across participation, workforce, leadership and governance, and this is simply wrong.
Signing the declaration publicly will anchor our commitment to gender equity through a deliberate plan which will discipline us to narrow and close any gaps, and sustain the progress we aim to make.”
Annamarie Phelps, Co-Chair of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG), added:
“We are thrilled to welcome Sport Birmingham to our global network of signatories. With the IWG Global Summit arriving in Birmingham next month, there is no better time for them to make this vital public commitment to gender equity. We look forward to seeing how this pledge supports their ongoing efforts to drive long-term, sustainable change for women and girls across the city.”
The signing coincided with the Girls of Brum: Summer Showcase event at the Alexander Stadium which hosted around 600 girls across the city. The annual showcase event brought together young women from across the city for a day dedicated to participation, empowerment and inspiration. Read more about the Summer Showcase here.
Girls of Brum represents a long-term commitment to ensuring every woman and girl in Birmingham feels confident, resilient and empowered. By bringing together schools, communities, businesses and local leaders, the initiative is helping to create a city where women and girls are visible, valued and supported to thrive. Read more about how you can be part of the movement here.