Body confidence

Return to Fitness: Active Sussex

Having looked at the results from the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation ‘Sweat in the City’ programme Active Sussex  and Inspire Leisure wanted to look at how they could support people who want to return to fitness but for various reasons find leisure centres and fitness classes a daunting place to visit.

Overview

To support women to return to fitness and to discover positive power of exercise.

Project detailsProject duration: 25 January 2010 - 29 March 2010
Organisation: 
Active Sussex and Inspire Leisure
Project name: 
Return to Fitness
AudienceAll women
Age group: 
0 - 15
Age group: 
16 - 24
Age group: 
25 - 40
Age group: 
41+
Innovation
This was a new approach for Active Sussex. They had tried Back to Netball and similar programmes, but the variety of activities and a consistant mentor for participants was new.
Recruitment and promotion
Recruitment was done through the local employers and press releases were issued.
Location
Local
How was your project delivered?A variety of activities
Funding
The project was funded by Inspire Leisure and Active Sussex through the Active & Healthy Workplace Inititative, plus the participants were charged £20 for the 10 week course.
Partnership
Inspire Leisure, Active Sussex’s Active & Healthy Workplace Initiative, Littlehampton Town Council, Littlehampton Gazette
Results
Evaluation: 
Evaluation • Participants completed pre and post course questionnaires on each participant and analyse • Participants complete pre and post fitness test (step test and resting heart rate) • Offer those attending an incentive to carry on visiting the Leisure Centre for physical activity. E.g. 12 for 10 cards, free gym induction etc The programme was a huge success: 100% of particpants increased their activity levels 70% improved their resting heart rate 100% continued to particpant and took advantage of the incentives The programme ran was really well received and more courses are planned using the same format.
Themes

For more information telephone Active Sussex on 01273 643869, or e-mail on link below.

Key links: 
www.inspireleisure.co.uk
www.activesussex.org
[email protected]

Girls Active London: "Our Voice, Our Choice, Our Sport"

Girls Active is a national programme to create opportunities for girls to express how they feel about PE and sport and provide opportunities for girls to try different activities and make an informed choice.

The Girls Active London project: "Our Voice, Our Choice, Our Sport" aimed to empower and inspire girls to organise an Girls Active day leading to a Girls Active club at their schools.

Project detailsProject duration: 09 September 2007 - ongoing
Organisation: 
TEAM Central School Sport Partnership, Waltham Forest
Project name: 
Girls Active London: "Our voice, Our choice, Our sport"
AudienceBME, Deprived communities, Disabed, All women
Age group: 
0 - 15
Innovation
Hopefully the girls are inspired and empowered with the financial and staff support to make a difference to their lives and those of other girls. The Empowerment days and Girls Active clubs are different and unique to each school because the girls lead on them making girl's sport and activity important and valued.
Recruitment and promotion
10 Disengaged and non-active girls were targeted along with a few pro-active girls within partnership schools to attend a Girls Active Empowerment Event. These days, lead by the girls, take place within the girls' schools, targeting particular age groups or those who are disengaged. The days lead to new after-school/lunchtime and curriculum opportunities for girls to continue the tested activities, using the Girls Active club and other girls specific clubs, competitions and leadership opportunities.
Location
Local
How was your project delivered?Dance, Rugby League, Other (judo, tag rugby, handball, dance mats/rowers/Wiis and skipping to name a few)
Funding
YST Grant as a Regional Centre for Girls Active: £5,000 Sports Unlimited funding Accessed: £6,000 Resouce pack given to girls provides the contact information for student and staff led funding opportunties (Sky Living, Sports Relief etc to make projects sustainable). A positive impact on girls' participation would encourage schools to continue funding
Partnership
Youth Sport Trust / WSFF / Greenwich Leisure Limited / Local Authorities / National Governing Bodies (e.g. Judo / Handball) and other (skipping) / County Sport Partnerships and other School Sport Partnerships all played a role and support us and continue to do so.
Results
Lessons: 
The project is still ongoing. The girls plan their own empowerment day after attending an empowerment day in north London involving 11 School Sport Partnerships in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest (4 have taken place / are due to). The Girls Active clubs are running until the end of term in schools (some may start after the empowerment day) Questionnaires completed by the girls at the event stated: 38% still thought you had to be good at sport to do it, The majority thought sport was not uncool, Many stated that they had much more choice at school now, When they enjoyed PE it was because it was fun and no-one was mucking around - if they liked the activity they tended to have more fun and also had more fun when it was new, interesting and not repeatative. At schools that have had a Girls Active day they have seen a marked increase in girls taking part in out of hours learning activity and clubs at school. The Girls Active days and clubs work best when the girls have teacher and school support. Registers are to be submitted for the Girls Active clubs as well as plans and numbers for the Girls Active days.
Evaluation: 
Link to the school timetable - Girls Active empowerment day needs to take place in September/October. Communication is an issue when including North London (need admin support to communicate and collate information and monitoring and our own Girls Active website) Success of project depends on the support girls get from teachers and own Senior Leadership Team at their schools - girls have the financial means, ideas and resources, but still need someone to believe in them.
Themes

Facilities

Improving facilities

Questions were asked about facilities in the student questionnaires to ascertain how much that had an impact on participation  - and obviously girls would like better and new facilities, but for many this would  not be a barrier to participation.

Growing and sustaining participation

Working with hard to reach groups

The Girls Active project is designed to help schools consider innovative ways of encouraging, engaging and retaining girls involvement in physical activity and sport. A drop off seems to take place from year 8/9/10 which will or not be confirmed by this year's PE and School Strategy for Young People data which is reported by gender. Girls Active uses different projects/clubs/sports/interventions to prevent this drop off and build girls' self esteem. It is trying to use the power of sport to transform lives and get girls active and enjoying PE, sport and physical activity. Peer group, socialisation and media/profile factors all play a role in the divide between girls' and boys' participation, particularly at secondary school.

Workforce development

Coaching

YST has just released funding to develop qualified coaches, leaders and volunteers who are all female. My team are working on a development plan which we will link to career and employment opportunities.

Promotion, marketing and raising the profile

PR and media coverage

Coverage in Sportsister (April or May 2010) and the School Sport Magazine (June 2010) YST, and some local coverage.

Social networking

Developing with Shokk.

Role models

Coaches on empowerment days are, where possible, strong female and positive role models reflecting the diversity of our partnership and challenging sterotypes (judo, tag rugby - England and Ex-England female players turned coaches and motivators).

Brading & marketing

Our Strapeline thought of by girls emcompasses what we are trying to do. 'Our Voice, Our Choice, Our Sport' T-shirts are branded Youth Sport Trust, School Sport Coordinator, County Sport Partnership and are black and shocking pink but also have the schools' individual names on them.

Confidence and self esteem issues  

The key aim of the programme is to use sport/physical activity to develop girls' confidence and self esteem which is why the initial event is an empowerment event. We want them to believe in themselves and who have life aspirations.

Health & wellbeing

Linked to the above and key - we will all be better people who live better lives when we are active and healthy and with loads of energy and drive!

For more information, contact:Tanya Irvine, Partnership Development Manager, TEAM Central School Sports Partnership, Norlington School, Norlington Road,  Leyton, London E10 6JZ,  London Borough of Waltham Forest, Tel: 0208 5393055 (sch)

[email protected]

Women’s Running Network

The Women’s Running Network (WRN) was founded 11 years ago in Exeter to encourage women to run who would not normally consider that they could. Our ethos of all shapes, all sizes, all ages, all stages embraces all women and encourages them to improve their fitness and well-being. Our youngest is 12 and our oldest at present is 73.

The aim of WRN was to get women active but initially with no plans of expanding outside Exeter. As we grew our success spread to other parts of the country.

Project detailsProject duration: 01 January 1998 - ongoing
Organisation: 
Women's Running Network
AudienceAll women
Age group: 
0 - 15
Age group: 
16 - 24
Age group: 
25 - 40
Age group: 
41+
Innovation
Women only-helping other women. Women as leaders, women’s running groups as the new community.
Recruitment and promotion
It started with runners who trained with us and loved it so much they wanted to share it. Promoted by word of mouth, good personal stories in press, on the radio and links with local events e.g. Race for Life. Charity events organised by the founders drew massive publicity in 2000.
Location
National
How was your project delivered?Running / jogging
Funding
The first 7 years were voluntary and by membership, then Community Investment Funding funding from Sport England in the South West until March 2009.
Partnership
Many partners locally, regionally and nationally. England Athletics are the primary partner.
Results
Lessons: 
Having spent 11 years developing our project, we constantly review and change. In the first instance we didn’t really engage with local authorites but now some of our most successful projects have been working with partners.
Evaluation: 
We are expanding all the time. Retention of members is good compared with many clubs. We constantly review what we provide and we are always trying to improve service. We monitor the WRN, but using a member database showing total members, leaders, new areas and ages. Hard to engage with young women and sustain a project with them. However with leaders passion have maintained the groups we started. These are limited and mainly in the south west.
Themes

Growing and sustaining participation

The aim of WRN is to increase participation and encourage young women to stay active. Most of our women would not traditionally see themselves as runners and go to a traditional club.

Workforce development

All our leaders are trained and attend a UKA leadership course. Initially we had our own leaders course and our leaders also attended an England Athletics course. We had input into England Athletics course and they have just launched a new leadership course. We support our group leaders with ongoing training. 

Reversioning sport

The whole ethos of our delivery is social and fun. Reducing any emphasis on competition.

Targetting confidence and self-esteem issues

Body image and confidence are the biggest barriers we have faced in encouraging women to participate.

Health and well being

Running definitely has an effect on health, both mental and physical. It has helped our participants overcome cancer, lose weight, reduce high blood pressure, cope with diabetes, aswell as some mental health problems.

Key links: 
Women's Running Network

Physical activity and mothers

In 2005, the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation commissioned Opinion Leader Research (OLR) to carry out a study into socially excluded mothers with young children to enhance the understanding of the barriers that these women face and possible solutions.

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FACTSHEET_mums05.pdf

Women and sport at university

In September 2009 WSFF delivered a workshop at the annual BUCS conference. This factsheet captures some of the key elements of the presentation and the discussion that took place.

Key links: 
British Universities and Colleges Sport
application/pdf icon
Women_and_sport_at_University.pdf

Teenage girls and dropout

This factsheet explains the reasons why teenagers drop out of sport, and provides solutions for NGBs, clubs and coaches for retaining them.

It was first recognised in the 1957 Wolfendon Report that teenage girls were dropping out of sport at a faster rate than boys, this remains the case and unless the sport's sector acts this will not change.

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Teenage_girls_and_dropout.pdf

Bollywood Dancing in Schools

We wanted to engage girls who were largely inactive within the curricular PE programme and extra-curricular activities. 

The target audience of girls were from an ethnic minority background where sport was not seen as a priority by them or their families.  These girls did the minimum of work in PE classes and although they were never disruptive, they were not getting anything out of the programmes that were on offer.  The majority of these girls rarely interacted with any of the teaching staff.

Project detailsProject duration: 02 March 2009 - ongoing
Organisation: 
Woodfarm High School
Project name: 
Bollywood Dance Classes
AudienceBME
Age group: 
0 - 15
Innovation
The Bollywood Dance programme was offered to a group of inactive girls from an ethnic minority background. Offering dance as an activity really engaged them as a group and changed their perceptions of sport from the traditional sense of football and hockey, and gave the girls some physical activity that they really enjoyed. We put a lot of effort into the timing of the classes to ensure maximum attendance.
Location
Local
How was your project delivered?Dance
Partnership
We worked with parents and external choreographers to deliver the Bollywood Dance programme.
Results
Evaluation: 
30 girls have attended the initial after-school Bollywood dance club. 95% of these girls are from an ethnic minority background. The girls have now grown in confidence and the choreography is led by a fellow group member. The girls have performed at the National PE Conference in Stirling. They were very enthusiastic about performing in front of other people as it is something which was very important within their own culture and community. The girls took great pride at getting ready for their performance in costumes and jewellery. For this group of girls, PE is now seen as a place where they can have relationships with the PR teachers. As a result their self-esteem has increased and they now have found an environment in which they can feel confident about taking part in physical activity. The girls now feel they are contributing to the PE department and to the ethos of the school by bringing their culture and experiences into school life. “We like the chance to show others the different kinds of things WE do outside of school. Sometimes people don’t know what our lives are like.” Student
Themes

Growing participation

Working with hard to reach groups

The Bollywood Dance group has offered a physical activity option for a group of girls who would not have been involved before.  Taking the time to think about the girls' needs - especially in relation to cultural issues - has been the biggest asset of the dance group idea. 

Confidence and self esteem

Before the Bollywood Dance programme began, the inactive group of girls did not participate in PE classes. Giving this group the option of Bollywood Dance has given them body confidence and self esteem - especially in PE classes.  They were also invited to perform at a National PE Conference in Stirling and participated in a the Festival of Bollywood Art which further helped their confidence and self esteem. 

Key links: 
Woodfarm High School

Girls in Sport - Aberdeenshire Council

In order to reach the national physical activity recommendation of 1hr of moderate activity every day, we created the ‘Girls in Sport’ club at the Meldrum Academy.

Project detailsProject duration: 01 December 2006 - ongoing
Organisation: 
Aberdeenshire Council
Project name: 
Girls in Sport
AudienceSchools
Age group: 
0 - 15
Age group: 
16 - 24
Innovation
Our project was well delivered due to our enthusiastic staff, funding and the variety of our partners. We also launched the programme with considered branding and promotional tools which were targeted to the girls. The project was delivered using multi-activities so the girls were engaged and also were not put off by competitive sports or limited types of activities. To encourage girls to come back to the club we also introduced incentives which target girls specifically including hair, beauty, nutrition vouchers and products.
Recruitment and promotion
We designed a “Girls in Sport” logo to give the club its own identity. We also produced a leaflet which was distribution to all P7-S6 girls. In addition, the girls were sent an invitation in the mail to raise the profile of the club and inform the girls and the parents. To promote the club further, we design a Power-Point presentation to demonstrate girls taking part in physical activity. The presentation was shown on a flat screen TV in the weeks leading up to the launch to raise awareness of the club. We also updated the school web page and featured the activities on the Pupil bulletin.
Location
Local
How was your project delivered?Multi-sport
Partnership
We received support from Youth Sports Trust and SportScotland which was essential for the project. To deliver the Girls Get Active project we also worked with the Local Sports Centre, a graphic designer, local businesses, Community Sports Clubs and Sports Development Officers.
Results
Lessons: 
One lesson we learnt from the Girls in Sport Club is that training and time out to plan is essential. Although it takes a lot of time and hard work to set up club, it really works. We now have started to do joint planning between the primary and secondary school as a result of the success of the girl’s project. One other thing I would like to improve in the future is further cooperation from parents, especially in terms of car sharing.
Evaluation: 
• Increased levels of girls taking part in sport and physical activity • Increased girls' participation and attendance at extra-curricular clubs • Weekly 30-50 girls attending
Themes

Facilities

Transport was an issue for some girls from the furthest away primary schools, but they arranged for their parents to meet and set up a car pool to enable the girls to take part.

Participation

We have grown girls' participation in physical activity by offering a variety of multi-sport activities and have launched a rewards or incentive scheme.  The more sessions the girls attend, the quicker they can receive small incentives that have been selected specifically for girls such as hair, beauty and nutrition products.  Vouchers are also provided to girls with high attendance figures.

Key links: 
Aberdeenshire Council

Girls Get Active - Castlebrae Community High School

The uptake of sport and physical activity among the girls in the school has been low and a large number of girls did not use to take part in PE at all. There were huge challenges with truancy, attitudes, behaviours in the school used to be seen as a “difficult school”. Morale was low among students as well as staff and in particular PE was suffering from high turn over of PE teachers and the teaching was disrupted and there was little continuity.

Project detailsProject duration: 01 September 2009 - ongoing
Organisation: 
Castlebrae Community High School
Project name: 
Girls Get Active
AudienceSchool
Age group: 
0 - 15
Innovation
The biggest difference we found in increasing the girls' participation in physical activity was providing a new kit that stays at school and is washed after every use. The kit makes the girls feel more confident about taking part in PE. The changing room updates have made a huge difference as well. The girls have shower curtains on the cubicles, good mirrors and even hair dryers and straighteners.
Location
Local
How was your project delivered?Dance
Results
Evaluation: 
Before we started the Girls Get Active programme, we only had 20% of girls choosing PE. This grew to 50% in the following term. Also there are more activities on offer for girls and more girls are taking part. Due to high demand, the dance class is now offered twice a week instead of once. Adding the gymnastics class has proven to be a positive thing as well. It's about giving the girls lots of opportunities to stay active. Being fit and doing exercise has begun to be seen as more cool and more girls want to take part. The girls' behaviours have changed radically.
Themes

Confidence and self-esteem

Forgetting PE kit used to be a big problem and as a result the staff together with the girls decided on a new kit which was more appealing to the girls. The new kit included black tracksuit bottoms, black t-shirt, black shorts and black socks. The PE- kit was also held in the school and washed after each lesson or activity. Being more comfortable in their kit whilst doing PE helped the girls' confidence and self-esteem.

Facilities

The changing rooms were identified as a real problem as they were dated, dirty and unappealing. The changing rooms have been transformed and have been painted and cleaned.  Plus a new vanity area has been built with mirrors, shelving, hair dryers and straighteners. The showers now have shower curtains and there are towels available that are washed after each use. The PE staff have made the effort to do the most they can to make the changing rooms in-line with what girls expect in any leisure facility.

Reversioning sport

Previously dance was one class that was not well attended. As a result we changed dance teachers and added new routines. Since the changes, the classes have been very well attended and are popular with the girls.  The dance class has been opened up to transition girls in primary school in February. We have also added a gymnastics class for the girls to offer another option to get involved in physical activity.

Health and well being 

The school used to have a problem with many pupils not showing up to school on Fridays. We introduced a breakfast club which starts at 7am and offers dance and running for girls followed by a healthy breakfast. The running has proven popular and there are between around 20 girls coming to run each week and also some members of staff.

Targeting obesity

The Active School Coordinator and school staff work with girls who have been identified as having a serious weight problem.  We take an informal approach where the staff encourage the pupils to become active in ways that suit the them.  We also offer a personal fitness program that the students and Active School Coordinators go through together.  The Coordinator also works with Edinburgh Leisure’s Obeisty Scheme where pupils are given a free 12month leisure pass and some personal training sessions. The approach is informal, supportive and personal.

Key links: 
Castlebrae Community High School

Creating a nation of active women: A framework for change

Creating a Nation of Active Women provides the framework to address the crisis detailed in It’s time. But it’s more than a strategy for change. It is a stark call-to-action for those with the power and responsibility to effect that change. 

A national target has been set for two million more people to be more active by 2012, of which at least one million should be women. But with 24 million women not doing enough physical activity, that should be only the beginning.

 

With practical recommendations, the strategy provides a framework, compromising three key imperatives, for those who develop policy and design, and who deliver and promote sport and exercise for women and girls.

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Creating_a_Nation_of_Active_Women.pdf
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