British Athletics backs Equal Sport Project with commitment to female coaching opportunities

British Athletics has pledged its support for the Equal Sport Project, a UK Sport-backed initiative bringing organisations together to help make the UK the world’s leading nation for women and girls in sport.

The organisation’s commitment focuses on increasing opportunities for women in elite coaching, building on work already underway to improve female representation within championship team coaching roles. In September, British Athletics launched its Female Team Coach Pilot Programme, bringing together seven female coaches from across the sport. Running until August 2027, the programme provides workshops, mentoring, networking and practical development opportunities to help participants gain the skills, confidence and experience required for future international championship team roles. The initiative forms part of the organisation’s wider 2026 Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, which identifies increasing female coaching representation as a key priority.

British Athletics is also exploring opportunities to improve female representation in other areas of the sport, including sports media and photography, with work underway to consider how aspiring photographers can gain valuable experience at major athletics events.

Jack Buckner, Chief Executive said:

“We’re delighted to support the Equal Sport Project and its ambition to create more opportunities for women and girls across sport.

“We’ve already started making progress in areas where we know more needs to be done, particularly in coaching, where women remain underrepresented at the highest levels. Our Female Team Coach Pilot Programme is a really positive step towards changing that, helping talented coaches develop the experience and confidence to take on future championship roles.

“There’s always more we can do, and we’re keen to build on this work, both within coaching and in other areas of our sport. We’re pleased to stand alongside UK Sport and our fellow sporting organisations in making a collective commitment to lasting change.”

The pledge supports the Equal Sport Project’s priority of creating an equal workforce across sport, recognising the importance of improving representation and opportunities for women both on and off the field of play.