Active Girls Day

Active Girls Day is an annual initiative which celebrates the amazing work going into girls' sport, the progress around girls' participation, and the incredible role models making it happen.

In recent years schools have had flexibility to pick a date which suits them to run events or activities, and Young Ambassadors can take a lead on organising. We now celebrate #ActiveGirls throughout March, linking to International Women's Day, and encourage schools, clubs and organisations to get involved offering events and activities during the month.

Alternatively, schools can choose to mark Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week which is led by Active Scotland in October. 

Promotional toolkit & resources

Logos 

Poster templates

Social media

Film

We recommend editing the templates using Canva, which allows you to add your own text and images. Find out more about how to edit in Canva.

Make sure you use #ActiveGirls in your social media posts and tag us @sportscotland

 

Background to Active Girls Day

It’s important for everyone to take part in sport and physical activity. However, some groups face different barriers to participation which requires a more targeted approach.  

Some of the barriers for girls are:

  • Experiences of PE – Girls are consistently less positive about their PE experiences than boys. Issues around lack of choice and too much focus on competition means that some girls are disengaged.
  • Self-esteem, body confidence and peers – Concerns about appearance, lack of confidence, and influence of peers.
  • Wider issues – Wider structural issues such as availability of facilities, variety of sports on offer, lack of visible female role models and media coverage.

Although progress has been made in reducing these barriers, there’s still a significant difference between girls’ and boys’ participation rates in teenage years:

  • In the 13-15 age group only 30% of girls are meeting the physical activity recommendations, compared to 44% of boys (2019 Scottish Health Survey)
  • Teenage girls were also less likely than teenage boys to be taking part in sport (56% of girls compared to 63% of boys)

A targeted approach is helping to reduce the participation gap and give girls a more positive experience of PE, sport and physical activity. There is some fantastic work happening across the country to make this happen, and Active Girls Day aims to raise awareness of this.  

 

Inclusive activity

If you're looking to get more girls involved in your club or project, here are some things to consider:

  • Consultation: Seeking and listening to girls’ feelings, views and ideas
  • Role models: Using a wide range of role models to show active lifestyles are for all
  • Culture and ethos: Getting buy-in for girls’ sport and physical activity
  • Pathways: Creating partnerships between schools, clubs and the wider community
  • Environment: Considering where, when and with whom girls participate
  • Leadership: Enabling girls to take responsibility and have ownership of activity
  • Profile: Marketing, promoting and celebrating sport and physical activity for girls
  • Achievement and attainment: Recognising and celebrating individuals’ progress
  • Parents and carers: Involving families in getting girls active
  • Teaching and delivery: Developing the methods and activities used by teachers and coaches

Resources for schools: To support these conversations, a Fit for Girls resource pack is available for all high schools in Scotland. Please contact your Active Schools Manager if your school hasn’t received this.

 

Scottish Women & Girls in Sport Week 

Scottish Women & Girls in Sport Week is led by Active Scotland, dates for 2025 are 6-12 October.

#SheCanSheWill

 

 

Schools & colleges
Date published: 17 July 2023
Date updated: 11 July 2025

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