Local schools are missing out on vital funding for female sporting activities available through the Sports Council for Wales' Girls First initiative.
Welsh secondary schools in the area can apply for up to £1,000 to fund a new programme of extra-curricular activity for girls to keep them fit and healthy.
The £250,000 scheme, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, offers financial support for activities that are outside the national curriculum such as girls rugby, girls football, aerobics, cheerleading and self defence.
Research carried out by the Sports Council for Wales shows that girls transferring from primary to secondary school need to be given more positive experiences of sports in the early stages to avoid them from dropping out.
Latest figures reveal that in terms of gender, 63 per cent of men participate in sport compared to 51 per cent of women. The Sports Council for Wales has set itself the target of increasing female participation in sport to close the gender gap. It has introduced several schemes and initiatives such as the FIT IN campaign and Girls First initiative.
However, despite the huge success of the Girls First initiative since its launch in 2001, the Sports Council for Wales strongly believes that more schools should be applying for funds.
The Sports Council for Wales's chief executive, Dr. Huw Jones, said: "The initiative aims to deter girls from dropping out of sport once they leave primary school, get more girls to take up sport and increase the opportunities available to them. The scheme is now in its third year and we want to stress that it's not too late for schools to apply for funding."
For further information on Girls First, contact Steve Morgan on 01244 822600.