- Women’s Sport Trust’s Unlocked programme brings together 36 female athletes as research reveals growing ambition among elite women to make a difference.
Ladies European Tour (LET) and LPGA professional and England Golf Ambassador Bronte Law has been announced as part of the Women’s Sport Trust’s Unlocked 2025–2026 programme, joining a new cohort of 36 elite female athletes from more than 20 sports across the UK and Ireland.
Unlocked is the flagship programme from the Women’s Sport Trust, which brings athletes together to use their voices, connect across sports and lead change on and off the field.
Law will be part of a growing network of athlete leaders, from emerging talent to Olympic and Paralympic champions, each bringing a unique perspective and a shared commitment to shaping the future of women’s sport.
Research* by the Women’s Sport Trust, commissioned by UK Sport with support from Think Beyond, shows the scale of opportunity and the need for greater support around athlete voice and influence.
- 72% of elite female athletes told us that they want to make an impact within society, but only 39% said they know how to do it.
- 60% believe they don’t have enough profile to make the impact they want.
- 74% feel the expectations on female athletes to make a difference are greater than for their male counterparts.
- When asked what motivates them, 62% said their main driver is using their experience to help others, followed by raising awareness of important issues.
- The top areas where athletes want to make a difference are:
- 57% – Growth of women and girls’ sport
- 52% – Participation
- 45% – Mental health and wellbeing
- 30% – Body image
- 25% – Diversity, equity and inclusion
Unlocked exists to bridge that gap, giving athletes the influence, community and connections to turn intention into action.
“Unlocked isn’t about training athletes, it’s about supercharging them,” said Tammy Parlour, CEO of the Women’s Sport Trust. “We want to help them realise the power they already have. Their voices are transforming sport from the inside out, and when these women come together, they shift the conversation about what’s possible in women’s sport as a whole.”
The programme receives funding from the Jacobs Futura Foundation, which is supporting both this year’s cohort and the thriving network of 111 Unlocked alumni. Since its launch, Unlocked has helped athletes secure sponsorships, embrace media opportunities, champion diversity and take on leadership roles across sport. Three years after completing the programme, more than 40% of athletes hold formal leadership positions on boards, EDI committees or advisory groups.
This year’s group also features Becky Downie MBE (artistic gymnastics), Darcy Bourne, Fiona Crackles and Flora Peel (hockey), Bronte Law (golf), Becky Spencer (football) and Doaa Shayea and Lottie McGuinness (Para powerlifting), alongside athletes from netball, cricket, swimming, athletics and more.
British Para powerlifter Doaa Shayea said: “I was so excited to have been offered a place on Unlocked. As a Muslim para-athlete, I want to use my platform to challenge perceptions, break down barriers and help make sport a place where everyone feels they belong. And I hope Unlocked will give me the opportunity to turn my experience into impact for women and girls in sport.”
Commonwealth Games 2014 gold medallist, double European champion (2014 and 2016) and World Silver medallist 2019 in Artistic Gymnastics, Becky Downie said: “Being part of Unlocked means joining a community of women who want to make sport better for everyone. I’m excited to learn from others and share my experiences and hopefully we can drive change together.”
The Unlocked 2025 journey began with a launch event hosted by Howden in London on 14 November. Over the next 12 months, athletes will take part in online hangouts, spotlight sessions and activator partnerships, connecting with experts from across sport, media and business, and building relationships that last well beyond the programme.
