There is demonstrable evidence that girls and women feel more comfortable participating in female only activities and sports. To support this, Junior PARS connect and signpost clients to a range of girls only sessions available within their locality, including football with City in the Community, and Manchester United Street Reds, youth zone sessions at the Hide Out and fitness and exercise classes available through local providers. This has proven to successfully engage female clients with activity and encouraging fellow peers to also participate.
Partner organisation Team Manchester recently established a Girls Safety Project following consultation with a school who identified girls did not feel safe in their community when walking to and from school and lacked confidence when outdoors on their own. A leadership group of female pupils was created who worked with Team Manchester staff to devise a programme to help develop confidence in these areas. The group took responsibility for developing the programme, managing the finances and implementation of the project. The project is ongoing but to date the leadership group have improved a range of skills including teamwork, problem solving and budgeting. Team Manchester also deliver partnership programmes to provide opportunities for girls to get involved in playing football, netball and rounders. For International Women’s Day on 8 March 2024, 66 schools signed up to play in girls only football tournament with 1500 girls in attendance.
The community activity fund launched by Public Health last year welcomed local organisations and communities to apply for funding for projects that support delivery of the healthy weight strategy. One of the projects to receive funding was the provision of physical activities for asylum seeking, refugee and migrant women in Manchester who were affected by health inequalities and experiencing racial inequality. Faced by other challenges including language barriers and social isolation, the project was designed to deliver thematic sessions that embedded selfcare, physical movement and fun! Participants enjoyed a range of activities including ball games, air boxing, and active travel to the city art gallery. The group have shared cultural recipes and foods enjoyed since arriving in Manchester leading to the development of hybrid recipes that have been shared with the group. Language skills were woven into the activities that has built confidence in both spoken and written English, further encouraging the women to continue engaging in group outdoor activities.
The fund also supported dance and exercise classes with women from the Kurdish community, although classes were open to all women from the local community. Based in Mossside Powerhouse, the project engaged with women who wouldn’t usually use public leisure centres, due to cultural restraints, cost, confidence, or lack of childcare. The classes helped women to feel less socially isolated and more confident exercising in public spaces, encouraging further engagement with physical activity. Participants were able to socialise after the class further helping to reduce feelings of isolation and improving mental wellbeing.