Cadbury, partnering with Women Sport Australia (WSA), has announced $150k worth of grants to encourage young women to play sport.
The Get in the Game Grant is open for eight weeks and invites all grassroots girls’ sporting clubs and associations within Australia to register for their chance to be awarded $5k of funds to support the purchase and design of new female-friendly sporting attire, to navigate the uniform barriers and ensure ongoing participation.
Gen Simmons, President of WSA, said she knows how important it is that young girls feel comfortable when playing sport.
“Certain uniform designs can deter young girls from enrolling in sport. They might be designed for boys, be poorly cut, too tight or not cater to different body shapes. In turn, this can result in participation drop off.
“The costs associated with the purchase of sporting uniforms can also be a roadblock. We’re so thankful for Cadbury’s support, providing WSA with the ability to offer grants to local girls’ sporting clubs and associations, which we hope will provide uniform barrier solutions, and allow girls to feel comfortable, confident, and able to continue their sporting pursuits.”
One in two girls drop out of sport from the age of 15, with unsuitable uniforms and sporting attire a major contributing factor which affects their confidence about being active. By the age of 14, Australian girls’ confidence levels are 27 per cent lower than boys.
Jessica Finger, Marketing Manager – Equity and Sponsorships at Mondelēz International, said that by partnering with WSA they hope to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to supporting girls’ sports.
“For Cadbury, it’s critically important that females have as many sporting opportunities as their male counterparts. We want to shine a light on Australia’s female sporting role models and provide a platform for their amazing achievements, whilst simultaneously breaking down barriers for the next generation.”
The Cadbury Get in the Game Grants opened on 11 October, with registrations closing 10 December, 2021.