Too many girls are disengaging from sport and exercise in their teens: a recent Women in Sport report noted that 43% of girls stop taking part in sport or exercise post-primary school. But the need to engage girls in active lifestyles has never been more important for a generation that is less happy, more anxious and increasingly dissatisfied with their appearance. This session brings together three organisations working hard to break down the barriers to exercise for teenage girls. They’ll look at:
Women in Sport
Lisa West is Head of Policy, Partnerships and Public Affairs at Women in Sport and is a passionate advocate for gender equality. Lisa has worked in Local Authority, at Swim England and as a consultant, designing and delivering many projects across sport and leisure. Her 16 years in the sector enable a deep understanding of the system and how it needs to change to enable women and girls to thrive as participants, volunteers, professionals and, very importantly as leaders. Lisa believes whole heartedly in the power that sport and physical activity has to improve lives.
Having heard someone describe themselves once as an ‘enthusiastic amateur’ when it came to their sporting endeavours, Lisa has shamelessly used it since, regularly playing netball and taking on triathlons. Outside of work and sport Lisa is a School Governor and a member of the UK Coaching Advisory Group
Places Leisure
Since starting in the industry in 1996 as a group exercise instructor and lifeguard, then onto PT, Fitness Manager, NVQ Trainer and since 2010 Head of Fitness, Sarah has seen a lot of changes! She enjoys being part of a dynamic and forward-thinking senior team within Places Leisure focusing on community, health, fitness, innovation, partnership working and inclusion.
The Big Sister Project has positively impacted Places Leisure and changed our operating model for the better, for good. Sarah truly believes that community-based, accessible activity for all is the perfect approach to improve the health of the nation.
London Sport
Natasha Hood is the Active Environments Manager at London Sport, where she manages the Space for Girls project. With a background in environmental policy, Natasha is passionate about the relationship between design and public health. Her interest in creating health environments was heightened during the pandemic, which underscored the inequities and barriers that certain groups face in accessing physical activity and health services. Natasha advocates for spaces that encourage and support physical activity through inclusive and active design with equitable access to sports and physical activity.
Natasha was a college tennis player in the US where she quickly picked up on American slang and became a fan of American sports - just please don't ask her the rules of American football! An ardent supporter of the power of sports and physical activity to change lives, Natasha believes in the power of non-traditional spaces and activities to break down barriers. She is dedicated to creating environments where girls and women feel welcomed and empowered, inspiring a new generation of active, empowered women.