Following our recent visit to Inverness with Maree Todd, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, Sweaty Betty Foundation released new funding for a short-term, girls-only sport and physical activity programme.
7 young girls from Fife participated in completing a funding application with a project aimed to remove barriers and getting more young girls into sport and physical activity within their local community. All of the girls recently completed the SSF Chance:2:Be programme and have first-hand experience facing barriers to sport themselves. The girls were super passionate around clothing, stereotypes and lack of opportunities and the way in which this affects girls’ participation.
“If it wasn’t for SSF, I probably would be still getting into trouble at the weekend from the Police and I wouldn’t be physically active. Now, I love sport and I’m volunteering with different community clubs throughout the week as well as being part of the SSF & Fife Active Schools Young Leader programme. I want to create a programme where I can do the same and support other girls the same way in which SSF helped me.”
After being successful with the funding application, the girls moved onto the next stage of the application. 4 girls had to undergo an empowering ‘Dragons’ Den’ style presentation to Sweaty Betty Foundation team members. The girls volunteered over 20 hours to create a presentation on their programme. They all showed true leadership, confidence, commitment, and communication skills throughout the whole process.
“It was truly inspiring to see the girls come together as a team to tackle some of the barriers that women and girls face in sport. The dedication and passion was clear from the very beginning of this process, and I am super proud of all girls involved and how far they have come on their own journeys and how now they are seeking out to help others start their journey”
Through the successful delivery of the presentation, the girls were granted the full funding amount to start the ‘For the Girls’ Programme in their local community. At SSF we are super excited for the girls to take lead on this project and to get inactive girls in the community involved within this programme. We are so thankful to Sweaty Betty Foundation for providing this experience, the girls enjoyed the process of being involved from the very beginning of the programme.
