In My Own Words: Getting ‘sport ready’ with Kaila-Rose and Lillia
Breaking barriers to sport one session at a time…
Since 2022, we’ve partnered with Women in Sport to deliver the Big Sister Project, a programme which aims to empower and inspire more girls to get active.
The programme targets girls aged 9-15, a timeframe where they typically drop out of sport, exercise and physical activity. Our network of ‘Big Sisters’ and ambassadors across our centres lead ‘We Move’ sessions as part of the project, which can range from the girls playing football, to doing aerobics, and even dance classes!
We spoke to Kaila-Rose and Lillia, two of our girls who take part in the We Move sessions at their local centre. “It’s been really really fun.” Kaila-Rose said, “I like the equipment, being in the gym, and I really like the group cycling too.”
As part of the programme, we offer free or half-price memberships*, which gives girls access to their centre’s facilities and more at such an important time of their life.
When asked what made Lillia want to get stuck into the sessions, she said, “I liked that it was girls only as it makes me feel more comfortable when I do my exercises and makes it more fun…in year 7 I was doing netball, basketball, and tennis, and then with Big Sister I have started going to the gym as well.”
“When I was five, I did tennis, but I don’t really remember it, so Big Sister has helped me exercise more again.” Kaila-Rose added.
Getting involved in the Big Sister Project has helped both Kaila-Rose and Lillia make new friends and become more confident too!
Research by Women in Sport paints a very clear picture of why girls are shying away from physical activity. 1.3 million teenage girls who once considered themselves as ‘sporty’ are disengaging from sport as soon as after primary school, with some of the reasons being body image, a fear of judgement by others, or a lack of confidence in their sporting ability.
As well as gaining knowledge about the physical barriers that girls often face, our ‘Big Sisters’ and ambassadors across all of our centres are trained on the emotional barriers too. While our people are there to lead the We Move sessions and keep the girls motivated, they’re also on hand to be a friendly, familiar voice to talk to.
“We want to do all we can to break these barriers down at an early age and make sure girls feel comfortable and confident in places of exercise.“ Sarah Roberts, Head of Fitness at Places Leisure, said. “We feel part of something special and important with our teams involved in the programme…we really are changing girls’ lives for the better!”
We’re so proud of how the Big Sister Project has been delivered and developed so far and we can’t wait to see more girls across our Communities getting involved!
You can read more about the programme and how to get involved below.
*Membership is free for girls whose parent/carer/guardian meets one or more of the criteria which can be found here.