International Women’s Day 25

At Manchester Active, we are proud to champion women and girls in sport, movement, and physical activity.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the progress Manchester is making to open access and break down the physical and perceived barriers to participation.

We want to ensure that every woman and girl across our city has the opportunity to get active, feel empowered, and thrive.

Manchester has a long-standing legacy of hosting world-class sporting events that inspire participation and drive change. From the unforgettable atmosphere of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 to the city’s hosting of the Tour of Britain Women, these events have left a lasting impact—creating more opportunities, raising visibility, and shifting perceptions of women in sport. Last year, as the European Capital of Cycling 2024, Manchester lead the way in making active travel and cycling more accessible, encouraging more women and girls to embrace movement in everyday life.

Through targeted initiatives, community programmes, and investment in grassroots participation, we are committed to ensuring that sport and physical activity in Manchester are truly inclusive.

Together, we’re building a lasting legacy—one that inspires current and future generations of women & girls to take part in sport, physical activity and movement.

Take a look below as we highlight just some of the stories and initiatives making a real difference across the city.

Football

Manchester is continuing to make great strides in the football offer for Women & Girls, whether that be for players, coaches, referees or the number of leagues & teams in the city.

In 2022, Manchester was a host nation for the Women’s EURO 2022 tournament. The event provided the catalyst for immense change to the landscape of provision for women & girls football in the city.

Since 2022, there are now:

• 22,138 more schoolgirls playing football
• 4,773 more women playing recreationally
• 2606 more W&G playing competitively
• 217 women & girls completed FA Playmaker coaching course
• 39 more FA-qualified female coaches
• 67 more FA-qualified female referees

Rugby

Following the major success of other major women’s sports events coming to Manchester, such as Women’s EURO 2022 and Tour of Britain Women in 2023, Manchester cannot wait to welcome rugby fans from across the globe later this year for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Women & Girls rugby has seen a real growth over the past few years, and interest in the sport could not be higher as we approach 100 days to go for this summer’s tournament.

Manchester is alive with women’s sport.

Cycling

In 2024, Manchester was named the European Capital of Cycling. Through this accolade, Manchester invested in and supported cycling projects across the city, many of which focussed specifically on encouraging more women and girls to jump on a bike and have a go, even for the first time. Last year there were:

• 47 grants issued to community cycling providers to improve women and girls participation
• 69 community events commissioned or supported, including Rides for Women & Lights Up

Community & Movement

Manchester Active is supporting and providing funding to a number of local organisations and community groups to deliver sessions aimed at encouraging women and girls to be more physical active.

Initiatives we support range from obesity, anxiety & depression, social isolation, safe spaces and support for families with children aged 0-5.

Bollyfit Active 

• Bollyfit tackle obesity, depression, anxiety and isolation through dance and movement.
• Manchester active are supporting Bollyfit to deliver monthly sessions specifically tailored for South Asian and Afro-Caribbean women in several local communities, including Crumpsall, Levenshulme, Longsight, and Gorton.

Rainbow Haven

• Manchester Active provided funding to set up a ‘Stay & Play’ group. Funding supports vulnerable families, including the emotional and physical wellbeing of peri and post-natal asylum-seeking and refugee women and their young families.
• The programme supports around 50 women per year through pregnancy and up to the child’s first birthday

Leisure & Physical Activity

Manchester is working hard to ensure targeted sessions for women & girls are available to support our diverse Manchester communities, helping them to overcome barriers to accessing activities across local leisure centres.

Sessions, such as Women & Girls, provide programmed activity to support participation and increase choice for this underrepresented group, whilst removing significant barriers for communities who’s cultural or religious beliefs can deter them from accessing sport & physical activity.

Comparing 2023-2024:

• 380+ hours of women only provision across sports, swimming, gym, group exercise and health suite sessions.
• 160+ women only sessions.
• NEW Women Only Gym in Belle Vue Leisure Centre separate to the main gym area.
• 9417 more female active participants within the leisure centres.
• 1,106,107 visits to leisure centres by women & girls in 2024 – an increase of 213,289 visits over 2023 levels
• All 21 leisure centres are part of the Women’s night-time safety charter.

Children & Young People

Manchester is on track to become a certified UNICEF Child Friendly City. We want Manchester to be a great place to grow up, where young girls feel safe, healthy, heard, cared for and able to flourish. Especially those disadvantaged, and those most in need.

In 2024:

• Thousands of young girls took part in benefits related free school holiday activity as part of the Holiday Activity & Food Programme (HAF)
• 63,782 free meals were delivered to girls on benefits related free school meals during the school holiday periods
• Total participation visits to school holiday activities increased by 25,000. An increase of 68% over 2023 figures.

There’s loads of stuff going on this year for International Women’s Day, we’ve compiled some highlights below. Click the links to learn more!

• Ride For Women Series
  • Sunday Chill Ride With Bee Pedal Ready
  • Lights Up Exhibition (Manchester Central Library)
  • MCR Trailblazing Women – The Bike Tour
  • Women Only Bike Maintenance
  • Femme Fix Up Fest
  • Beginner Velo Sessions (National Cycling Centre)
  • Intro To Bmx Sessions (National Cycling Centre)

• Skate Jam (ProjektsMCR)
• Manchester FA ‘Empower Her’ Workshops (Belle Vue Leisure Centre)
• Free ticket for Manchester Basketball Women vs Nottingham Wildcats (National Basketball Performance Centre)
• Bollyfit Active Dance Sessions (Revived – Performance Space 2 and 3)
• Women’s Community Festival (Manchester Central Library)
• Women Only Cycling Courses
• Women Only Exercise Classes (Selected Leisure Centres)
• FC United & Winning Hearts & Minds IWD Event (FC United, Lightbowne Road, Moston 11 March)
• MCR Women’s Futsal Final Home Game Free Ticket (National Cycling Centre)

+ Much Much More!