Euros can empower and inspire next stars of women's sport, says Community Wellbeing Officer
England begin their defence of the Women's Euros tonight against France
The next few weeks are the perfect opportunity to inspire the next generation of empowered women through sport, a community wellbeing officer in Wiltshire has told us.
As England's Lionesses prepare to kick off their defence of the Women's Euros, and with Wimbledon in full swing, there's a major spotlight being shone on women in sport.
It's seen by Wiltshire Council's Rachael Cornish as a chance to empower and inspire young girls using sport.
"They get to see these women participating in sport. They get to see them being strong, being competitive, being in that team environment, working towards that shared goal, having that dream to win," she said.
The Euro's tournament, which is being hosted in Switzerland, is seen as another springboard for boosting the involvement of women and girls in football, which has been experiencing a boom over the last decade.
But it's also an opportunity to encourage an active lifestyle, with numerous physical and mental health benefits.
Rachael told us: "When you do some exercise, you immediately feel more positive, those endorphins are released and you feel happier, you feel a sense of achievement and it's just a positive thing for your body and your mind."
She added that the social benefits of meeting new people, building connections and working in a team environment help break down barriers for people regardless of their background.
"Sport and physical activity has the ability to really change and increase the positivity in your life. You might be lonely, you might feel isolated, but you get out there and meet some other people, get away from whatever you're feeling and have that escapism from your everyday life.
"It's really empowering and really important for everybody to try and find that physical activity or sport that they can enjoy and take part in regularly."