A Medway teacher has been recognised for her outstanding dedication to delivering sports to young girls.

Strood Academy’s Justine McAvoy has been announced as official TeamUp ambassador, part of a three-year initiative developed by the England & Wales Cricket Board, England Hockey and England Netball.

It is designed to maximise the legacy of three consecutive home women’s World Cups from 2017-2019, and give thousands of girls aged seven to 13, the chance to play team sports.

As one of 15 ambassadors, Ms McAvoy, will become the face of TeamUp, using social media to spread the news about the initiative and introducing TeamUp to colleagues, peers and parents.

Ambassadors will also encourage pupils in their school to become TeamUp Champions to help engage their classmates in team sport.

Ms McAvoy will be rewarded with a range of prizes based on the number of schools they encourage to take part in the TeamUp initiative.

Prizes include sports kit, match tickets, a signed women’s cricket World Cup shirt and a chance to win a pair of tickets to the sold-out Hockey World Cup final next year.

The TeamUp initiative hopes to have a long-term effect on the delivery of school sport.

The gender gap in participation between girls and boys begins in the later years of primary school and continues to get bigger in secondary school.

Girls aged 11 to 15 less likely to play for a school team, be a member of a sports club, play sport against others in PE lessons or take part in a competition than boys of the same age.

To find out more information or to sign your school up to TeamUp, click here.