Ayr MSP Siobhian Brown has marked the beginning of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week 2023 by hailing the Ayr United Women’s Team.

The Scottish Government, alongside Scottish Women in Sport and Active Scotland, designed the initiative to highlight the importance of sport in achieving gender equality and improving health and wellbeing.

The SNP MSP for Ayr, Ms Brown, said: “The seventh annual Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week is a fantastic opportunity to encourage more women and girls to get active and to celebrate the many trailblazing role models in women’s sport.

“Physical activity is not only incredibly beneficial for women’s mental health and physical well-being but can be an incredible force for good in communities like Ayr, leading to empowerment and a sense of belonging which are too often in short supply for many girls.

“Women and girls make a tremendous contribution to sports at all levels, on and off the pitch, however, there remains a huge disparity between male and female participation.

"That is why the SNP Scottish Government is spearheading the fight for equal opportunities for all.

“Last year I had the opportunity to meet with the Ayr United Women’s Team to hear about their experience of women’s football.

"It has been a pleasure to follow their journey and watch them go from strength to strength. They are role models for future generations of athletes.

“It is a long-standing priority of the SNP Scottish Government to increase women and girls’ participation in sport and awareness of its benefits, as is the commitment to double investment in sport and active living to £100 million by the end of this Parliament.”