Today saw the Somerset #ThisGirlCan ambassadors come together for the first time to celebrate active women in Somerset who are doing their thing no matter how well they do it, how they look or even how red their face gets. The event supported by Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, MP for Wells James Heappey and BBC Somerset Radio presenter Emma Britton was an opportunity for the This Girl Can ambassadors to publicise what being active means to them and through sharing their stories empower other Somerset women to get moving.
This Girl Can is a nationwide campaign delivered on a local level by Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) to get women and girls in Somerset moving, regardless of their shape, size and ability. Research carried out by Sport England reveals a huge difference in the number of men and women playing sport, with 2 million fewer 14-40 year old in total. Despite this 75% of women say they want to be more active.
Further research into what’s stopping women turning their ambitions into reality found that millions of women and girls are afraid to exercise because of fear of judgement- on appearance, ability or how they choose to spend time on themselves.
The Somerset This Girl Can ambassadors enjoyed having a go at some different activities: Laser Pistol Shooting, Carpet Bowls and PING that SASP run across the county to try and embed being active as a way of life, whilst sharing their inspiring stories with Rebecca, James and Emma. One of our Ambassadors Claire Adam, talked opening about how she uses activity and being part of a team to help her manage her battle with anxiety and depression. Susie Thomas described how after watching the This Girl Can film she beat her barriers and started yoga again after years of being put off by the environment in which the classes were run. Now also having taken up running Susie a self-employed busy mum of two uses exercise as time dedicated just to herself. Having taken up running two years ago after years of being inactive Lorraine Warren would only run at night in the dark, through fear of being judged, until watching the This Girl Can film and now runs in the day, not caring if or what people may think.
Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow commented “Sport and exercise can not only keep you fit but be fun and energising. It's hard to believe that 2m fewer women than men between 14 and 40 take any exercise and I'd really like to encourage women from all walks of life to get involved. The Somerset activity and sports partnership is running some excellent programmes to help women get over the idea that sport is not for them with some pilot projects in local businesses including Clarke Willmott and Somerset Care. I urge people to take part.”
Susie Thomas, Somerset #ThisGirlCan ambassador from Taunton commented “This campaign is so inspirational, it has given me the motivation to just get out there and do my thing regardless of what people think, I feel great!”
To read the Inspirational Stories of these women click here
Are you passionate about promoting sport and activity for women in Taunton and Wellington? If so, why not become a Somerset ThisGirlCan ambassador. We are looking for women of all ages across local communities in Somerset to share their story to help us get more women active! Contact Laura Dyke [email protected] for information on how you can get involved.