A local project aimed at engaging girls aged 13+ into sporting activities has got off to a flying start at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre.
The Us Girls after school programme had its official launch at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre with schools from across the area attended, including; Whitworth Park, Woodham Academy, Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College and Greenfield’s Aycliffe and Sunnydale Campuses, which meant that over 60 young females participated.
Us Girls is a physical activity programme for girls aged 13+ delivered by Sedgefield School Sport Partnership in the Sedgefield area. The project currently has sessions running in Newton Aycliffe, supported by Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP), and delivers a wide range of activities to engage more girls into sport.
The launch event involved the girls finding out about the Us Girls clubs available to them, explaining why sport and activity is good for you and also discovering some worrying statistics for female participation rates.
By age 14, only 1 in 10 girls are doing enough physical activity to benefit their health as stated by the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation. However they also discovered that ‘74% of girls say they want to do more physical activity’. Which is why Us Girls is the perfect programme for these young girls, to attend a club every week and participate in fun, physical activity.
The girls participated in activities such as Zumba, volleyball, dodgeball and rounders, which were all delivered in a fun and non-serious environment to music. After trying all four activities the girls then worked with other students and their teacher to plan their 6 week afterschool club which will be delivered at their school. As a team the girls got their own say and organised all key aspects of the club such as the day and time and also what activities will be delivered at their club.
Us Girls was recently shortlisted for 2 Street Games National Awards – Us Girls Project of the Year and Young Coach of the Year (Kelly Howe). Unfortunately, the project did not win the awards; however, as it was shortlisted it received recognition as being in the top 3 in Great Britain.
The Us Girls Programme allows the girls to socialise, get fit and have fun with their friends in a relaxed environment, which allows them to attend the club week after week. All the clubs are youth led, so the girls get to decide which activities are delivered each week and also receive rewards and regular trips and festivals for their dedication and participation. Sessions delivered include; multi-sports including dodgeball, benchball, rounders, netball and volleyball.
Girls can also attend their local Us Girls Community Clubs, details of times and venues are listed below:
Us Girls Aycliffe
Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre
Monday 7-8.30pm
Kelly Howe, Us Girls Coach, said: “Sedgefield School Sport Partnership is about providing high quality sport opportunities within schools and in the community, the Us Girls programme is about engaging girls into informal sporting activities that they would not normally do. The Club runs along the lines of Fun, Fitness & Friends.”
If you would like to attend any of the sessions, please contact Us Girls Coach Kelly Howe via: Email: kellyhowe@sedgefieldssp.org.uk Office: (01388) 722317 or Mobile: 07930 316310
