The This Girl Can Sussex Network aims to inspire more women and girls to move more, and help break down the barriers that prevent so many from being physically active.
The last virtual forum of the year provided an opportunity for Active Sussex to highlight the national campaign and and our work/plans, as well as a space for partners to share what they have been doing over the last year, discuss plans for 2024 and any challenges that others could support them with.
Notes and links will be shared in due course.
Physical activity during pregnancy and after childbirth provides a range of physical and mental health benefits for women. However, despite the national guidelines, evidence suggests that up to 75% of women of childbearing age do not meet these recommendations.
We want to build relationships with partners to better understand the gaps and needs locally, see how we can add value to services and ultimately increase the physical and mental wellbeing of women and birthing people through the perinatal period by physical activity provision.
The session considered insight and physical activity behaviours of this audience, backed up by real life stories and provided an opportunity to share good practice examples, resources and training opportunities.
Presentation – slide format (PDF)
Presentation – plain text version (PDF)
Active Pregnancy Foundation – slide format (PDF).
The lack of women in leadership and coaching roles in sport and physical activity is a significant issue that has received increased attention in recent years. Despite progress made in gender equality in sports, there remains a gender gap in leadership and coaching positions.
Therefore this session provided a platform to discuss how we can collectively increase female representation at all levels of the workforce in Sussex. We took a look at the headline insight from the recent Sporting Insights research ‘Tackling Inequality – The Voice of Women’ and were delighted to have several Sussex women share their coaching and leadership journeys, as well as hear thoughts from a male ally about what they are doing in this space.
Presentation – slide format (PDF)
Presentation – plain text version (PDF)
Sporting Insights: Voice of Women Working in Sport (Download from site)
Sporting Insights: Voice of Women Working in Sport – Advice list report March 2023
Recordings from the webinar can be watched via our YouTube channel – TGC Sussex Network Playlist
Please get in contact if you require documents in a different forum.
It’s been nearly two years since we launched the This Girl Can Sussex Network, so this virtual forum aims to provide an opportunity for the network to come together informally to connect and share with regards to getting women and girls active.
This Girl Can Sussex: Networking & Connecting slides and notes (PDF)
This session delivered as part of the Sussex Inclusive Sport & Physical Activity Conference hosted by the Sussex Disability Sports Network.
You can watch the recording here
This Girl Can: Coach, Play, Learn Slides (PDF)
Thoughts and reflections from attendees (PDF).
Sport needs to reframe the value it can bring to women throughout their lives. Be inspired by real women as we hear from This Girl Can Ambassadors and Champions, explore new research, and piece together recommendations for positive action in Sussex.
You can watch the recording here.
TGC Sussex Network Forum – Women Sporting Journeys (Active Sussex slides).
Womens Sporting Journeys: How to keep women engaged in sport throughout their lives (Handout).
Only 10% of girls aged 13 to 16 meet the CMO guidelines of 60 active minutes each day. What’s more, by the age of 17, when PE lessons are no longer provide a form of compulsory exercise, 64% of girls will stop doing any sport at all!
At this forum we discussed the issues, barriers and solutions to ensure that girls in the county have a positive experience of physical activity from a young age.
Following a presentation from the Youth Sport Trust with the latest insights, we discussed thoughts and ideas, and heard from women and girls about their experiences and successes.
You can watch/listen to to the online forum recording here.
TGC Sussex Network Forum – Getting Girls Active presentation.
42% of women and girls are classed as not being active enough for good health.
This event focused on the health and wellbeing benefits of physical activity, and how the This Girl Can movement can support the lives of those living with long-term conditions and mental health problems.
We heard from some of our Sussex Ambassador and Champions and through the sharing of key insight and best practice, attendees delved into the problems faced by women participating in sport and physical activities, as well as exploring the solutions too.
You can watch/listen to the online forum recording here.
TGC Network Forum – Women’s Wellbeing Presentation
The menopause is a significant change in a woman’s life and can often have a negative impact on a woman’s physical activity as a result.
This forum event provided an opportunity for partners to hear about the latest research from Women in Sport, take on board lived experiences and discover how sport and physical activity provision can and is supporting women’s physical and mental wellbeing during the menopause.
Event outcomes:
You can watch/listen to the online forum recording here.
Read the summary notes from the forum here.
The This Girl Can Sussex Network was officially launched as part of the Active Sussex Network, 25 February 2021.
The session explored some of the insight around women and girls participation and we heard first hand from some our new TGC Champions as to why they exercise and how they fit it into their busy lives. This Girl Can Sussex Ambassadors also offered some top tips for partners to consider when planning/promoting activity. Facilitated discussions provided an opportunity to consider how the new This Girl Can Sussex Network can respond to the needs of women and girls in Sussex, to support them on a journey to become more active.
Gemma is responsible for managing key strategic stakeholder relations to tackle physical inactivity across Sussex, with a focus on increasing levels of physical activity for people with a disability, those from lower socio-economic groups, and women and girls. She oversees the Sussex Disability Sports Network, is the Lead Adult Safeguarding Officer, Deputy CYP Safeguarding Officer, Equalities lead and acts as the Active Partnership’s Human Resources lead.