Worrying decrease in number of women coaching across the UK
A new report from UK Coaching details the current state of coaching in the UK, highlighting a sharp decline in female coaches and various other key trends affecting the sector.
UK Coaching has released research, conducted by YouGov, that draws insights from over 30,000 adults and reveals both concerning declines and encouraging growth in different areas of coaching. The key theme that emerged is ‘representation matters’.
One of the most startling findings is the sharp decrease in the percentage of female coaches, which has dropped from 44% in 2022 to 38% in 2024. Against a backdrop of the huge recent growth in women’s sport this is incredibly concerning. We know (from Women’s Sports Foundation research) that girls more readily identify with and see a female coach as a mentor and as a role model, which, in turn, can help counter stereotypes and boost girls’ confidence, self-efficacy, and sense of belonging. Grassroots growth in women’s sport – and activity levels amongst women and girls – are likely to suffer because of the lack of coaches. We are working to counter this trend, aiming for 50% of our apprentices to be women.
Another striking finding is that only is that only 33% of coaches come from lower socioeconomic groups. For young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, coaching can feel out of reach because of the cost of training, lack of opportunities, or simply not knowing it’s a viable career path. At Coach Core, we see this reality every day. Many of the young people we work with are overcoming financial barriers, re-engaging with education after setbacks, or trying to carve out opportunities in environments where they’re often overlooked. That’s why our apprenticeships are fully funded and focus on young people from the top 30% of most deprived areas.
We know that relatable role models and coaches with lived experience of the barriers their participants face are incredibly impactful. That’s why Coach Core is working hard to open up coaching to all, using funded apprenticeships to remove as many barriers as possible.
These findings highlight the urgency of what we’re trying to achieve through Project 1500. By 2027, we aim to:
- Support 500 more apprentices, focusing on young people from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds.
- Drive diversity by increasing representation from ethnically diverse communities, women, and those with additional learning needs.
- Enhance workforce readiness, equipping apprentices with the skills, confidence, and qualifications to thrive.
It’s about creating a sector where coaching is for everyone, where barriers are broken, opportunities are created, and young people are empowered to become the next generation of leaders.
If you’re inspired to support us, here’s how you can help:
- Funding – as a charity we rely on donations to change young lives
- Advocacy – share this article, tell others about the work we do
- Employ – if you work in the sport & physical activity sector, get in touch about employing a Coach Core apprentice.
Read the full UK Coaching report here.