StreetGames is to lead a push to get women and girls in Wales more physically active.

The sports charity has appointed Jess Morgan to pilot the Us Girls campaign in Wales, aimed at girls between the ages of 13-19 who live in Communities 1st areas in Wales.

The campaign will include the development of a Wales-based Us Girls consortium of organisations committed to increasing female sports participation, as well as recruiting disadvantaged young female volunteers to help deliver the programme.

Figures show that there is a considerable gender gap in physical activity in Wales.

Nearly one third of Welsh males (63 per cent) participate in sport, while the figure for females is less than 50 per cent. There are also twice as many male members (22 per cent) of sports clubs than females (11 per cent).

The problem is related to girls becoming physically inactive at a young age – at the end of secondary school, only 44 per cent of Welsh girls take part in sport.

The newly appointed Morgan said there was a “huge need” to get girls across Wales more active.

“It’s not just about increasing fitness and improving health, but giving girls opportunities they wouldn’t have had and increasing their confidence and self-esteem,” she said.

“This can lead to other successes in life and give them a solid platform to build on.”

Morgan joins StreetGames from Chwarae Teg (Fair Play), where she spent two years working towards delivering its European funded, Agile Nation programme, as well as increasing gender equality in Wales.

The move has been made possible by funding from the Sport Wales Calls for Action programme.

Morgan will be responsible for leading and coordinating the campaign, helping to raise participation in sport and physical activity by facilitating a network of projects across Wales.

To read more about the Us Girls campaign, click here.