CSPs are working with a number of local and national partners to help motivate and encourage more women and girls to become active. During Women in Sport Week, 3-9 October 2016, numerous activities across the country are being organised to inspire women to become active and lead the way.
Latest research by Sport England and Women in Sport shows 1.9 million fewer women than men participate in sport at least once a month. CSP’s are taking the initiative and using local insight to work with partners to provide inclusive opportunities to address this issue.
Lee Mason, Chief Executive of CSP Network said:
“After the great strides made by the female athletes in Rio – Women’s Sport Week is a great way to raise the profile of women’s sport at a local level and raise awareness of the opportunities that are available to participate or lead sport and physical activity.
Throughout the CSP Network, CSPs are working with partners and local organisations to help inspire women to increase their activity levels by helping overcome the perceived barriers many women experience”
A few examples of activities taking place during Womens Sports Week are below;
Active Mums Cycling - Overcoming Equipment and Time Barriers
Active Devon are working across 8 towns in the county to engaged and develop Active Mums cycling projects. Funded by Public Health, Devon Local Sustainable Transport Fund and Active Devon the project has seen over 200 mums take up cycling. 16 Mums recently took part in Ride leader and breeze training to sustain the projects. Activities will continue through women in sports week.
Mums involved in the project have said have said:
"I can't wait to go out cycling with the family now I can put my child on the back of my bike rather than expecting my husband to do it!
'It’s a great activity to do in the day time! It gets me out and about seeing new things'
'I have now gone out and bought a bike and trailer so we can continue cycling together!'
To read more click on Active Mums Cycling
Girls Talk – Educating Providers
CSPs work strategically with a number of local organisations to help support and educate providers on how to encourage more women and girls to become and stay active.
Lancashire Sport Partnership have organised a 'Girl Talk' workshop during Women's Sport Week. Over 50 organisations including the Womens Institute, Cancer Research, Football Trusts and Housing Associations are attending the event, which includes insight and experiences from a range of national and local partners including Sport England, Girl Guides and the Women's Centre. The events aim to identify ideas that can be replicated across the county.
Get ‘Hot and Sweaty’ Womens Wednesday Workout - Overcoming Fear of Judgement
Northamptonshire Sport and Northampton Leisure Trust are giving women of all abilities, shapes and sizes the opportunity to have a go at a range of activities. In addition, there will also be the opportunity to learn about different courses such as “Couch to 5K” and nutrition. The whole evening will finish with a mass 'Women's Wednesday Workout' session in the main hall.
This Girl Can Ambassadors – Overcoming Fear of Judgement
CSP have successfully supported the TCG campaign since it was first launched in 2015. Somerset Sports Partnership are just one of many CSP that have identify local ambassadors to show women that anyone can get involved and get active.
The 6 ambassadors recorded Vlogs of themselves as they stepped outside their comfort zone and have a go at a number of sports, showing how easy it can be to get active, demonstrate what was involved and breaking down perceived barriers.
http://www.activepartnerships.org/news/somerset-ambassadors-give-it-go
For more information on what activities are being organised in each CSP please contact your CSP or Nicki Couzens ncouzens@cspnetwork.org for more information
Notes for the Editor:
Data Sources
Sport England Active People Survey 10 Q2 (April 15-March 16)
Women’s Sport Week
Building on the momentum from the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio this summer, the collective force behind Women’s Sport Week calls on everyone within the sports community and beyond to use this occasion to organise events, generate debate, and show their support to help women and girls reach their full potential through sport.
Women’s Sport Week 2016 will take place from Monday 3rd – Sunday 9th October, with activities taking place across the UK to rasie awareness of opportunities for women of all abilities and backgrounds to engage in sport, by taking part, volunteering and experiencing live sport, and to play an active role in sport leadership and workforce, from coaching to boardrooms, across the country. During the week, Sky Sports and The BBC will devote more broadcast time to celebrations of women’s sport, in a bid to improve sustained and consistent media profiling of female athletes and sports teams.
Women’s Sport Week 2016 will celebrate and showcase women’s sport at every level, from the grassroots to the elite, and will highlight the incredible contribution that women make to sport.
The week is being led by the charity Women in Sport along with Sky Sports, BBC, National Governing Bodies and sport organisations including Sport England and DCMS.
About the CSP Network
The CSP Network is a nationwide network of 45 County Sports Partnerships employing circa 670 staff with a total turnover of £57 million. Our mission is ‘To improve lives by growing grassroots sport and physical activity’. By 2020, our headline goals are:
- To get 500,000 more adults participating regularly in sport.
- To reduce the number of adults that are inactive by 250,000.
- To get 1 million young people more active.
We do this via:
- National Reach - Local Impact: Getting the nation active by delivering or commissioning high impact customer-led solutions.
- Clubs, Coaches & Volunteers: Developing a high quality, diverse workforce and supporting them to deliver inspiring activities that are accessible to all.
- Local Leadership: Co-coordinating the effective delivery of local sport and physical activity by brokering relationships and influencing stakeholders.
- Insight and Influence: Understanding the needs of the local area to influence and guide decisions to maximise investment into sport and physical activity.
- Awareness and Advocacy: Raising the profile of sport and physical activity through innovative local and national promotional campaigns.
For more information please contact Nicki Couzens, CSP Network ncouzens@cspnetwork.org