FOR too long there has been a culture of women giving up sport when they leave school.

After compulsory PE lessons end many girls have chosen not to keep up with sports like hockey, netball and athletics.

According to research by Sport England two million fewer 14 to 40-year-old women regularly play sport than men.

But despite this, 75 per cent say they want to be more active.

In some other European countries, this disparity doesn’t exist.

Further research into what’s stopping women turning their ambitions into reality found that a fear of judgement – on appearance, ability or how they chose to spend time on themselves – puts women of all ages off exercising.

The findings have been the driving force behind the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign, which aims to empower women and encourage more to get active.

The campaign doesn’t hold back in trying to encourage women to beat their barriers.

Pendle’s Jo Baldwin, a rounders fan who fits her passion for the game around her family and work, has now been chosen as a poster girl for the campaign.

We hope she encourages many girls and women to take sport back up and enjoy themselves.