Squashing the gender gap: How Ynys Môn Squash Club is changing the game for girls

01/07/2025

Home
News and Events
News, Features, Events and Campaigns
Squashing the gender gap: How Ynys Môn Squash Club is changing the game for girls

When Shaun Sullivan first set up Ynys Môn Squash Club in 2018, just two of the 38 members were women. That’s just five per cent.

But Shaun had a vision.

A vision where women and girls were just as visible on court as the men. And thanks to support from the National Lottery via Sport Wales, that vision is now becoming a reality.

Fast forward to 2025, and nearly 40 per cent of the club’s members are female. In junior sessions, the girls now even outnumber the boys.

Inspired by his daughter

Shaun has been coaching since he was 13 years old. But it was the birth of his daughter in 2021 that gave him the push to make squash more inclusive at Ynys Mon.

He once again applied for the National Lottery funding and this time to run free coaching sessions just for women and girls.

It worked.

Word spread quickly. Girls brought their friends. Mums joined in too, grabbing a bit of well-deserved “me time” each week.

Many had never picked up a racket before. But with expert, friendly coaching, nerves gave way to confidence.

Meet Rhian - The young referee taking charge

Becoming a referee has helped me be more vocal, which is really useful at college.

Rhian Jones

For 16-year-old Rhian Jones, the change has been huge.

She remembers being the only girl in training when she first joined. Now, she’s a qualified squash referee regularly taking charge of men’s league games and inspiring younger girls to get involved.

Rhian said, “It’s brilliant to see more women and girls involved in squash as it has really helped me build my confidence levels. Being involved in the sport and becoming a referee has helped me be more vocal, which is really useful at college.”

With every match she referees, Rhian’s belief in herself grows - on and off the court.

Making a difference on Ynys Môn

“We now have more girls than boys in junior sessions which is a really encouraging sign for the future.”

Thanks to inclusive coaching, community support, and a boost from National Lottery funding, squash at Ynys Môn is changing.

I’ve played sport at Ynys Mon since I moved here in 2016. It’s always been very male dominated. Thanks to Sport Wales and the National Lottery, we’ve been able to start changing that. We now have more girls than boys in junior sessions which is a really encouraging sign for the future.

Shaun Sullivan

With more girls picking up a racket than ever before, a next generation is stepping forward - full of confidence, skill, and a love for the game.

Does your club have great ideas for getting more women and girls involved in sport? Find out how the Be Active Wales Fund could help.

Women and Girls in Welsh Sport - #SheActiveWales

This is the biggest ever summer for women’s sport in Wales. Explore what’s on this summer, inspiring stories and how your club or organisation can play its part.