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The conference was held at the impressive St George’s Park, home of the Football Association
of women have come on to their period unexpectedly at some point of their lives – and 90% of women will leave a venue if they don’t have the right facilities. “If you have a venue without the products available then women are leaving – and that could be a netball court, a hockey pitch, a swimming pool or even a workplace,” Moffatt said.
Celebrating success
The conference also offered another chance to celebrate the winners of the SAPCA Awards 2022, with TigerTurf UK Ltd, Field Turf, S&C Slatter, Harrod Sport and Sportex Group receiving their winners’ certificates.
In addition, former SAPCA board member Tim Freeman was given the SAPCA Achievement Award in recognition for going “over and beyond” in his work to promote and improve the sports and play construction industry. Freeman was a board member
for the first 24 years of the association's journey and is also a former SAPCA chair. ●
Football Foundation has plans to create 300 Playzones over the next three years
your wider experience and our technical expertise – led by head of technical Chris Barry – and to identify the right way to do things for what our requirements are.”
Equal opportunities
A panel discussed how the industry should embrace the opportunities presented by the boom in women's sport. While the panel outlined the progress made in female sport over the past decade – from the increased interest in female elite competitions to
the growing number of women and girls playing sport at grassroots level – it also highlighted how there was still work to be done to bring facilities and venues up to standard when it comes to equality.
“Up until now, we’ve been designing facilities and spaces according to the default male body,” said author and women's sport advocate, Sue Anstiss.
On this, former British rower, Baz Moffatt – co-founder of The Well HQ – spoke of
a “female filter” which should be applied when designing facilities. As an example
of this, Moffatt mentioned adding more cubicles in changing room areas, as well as providing free female products. She quoted stats that show how more than 80 per cent
Former SAPCA chair Tim Freeman (above. right) receiving his SAPCA Achievement Award
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