Launched in February 2008, Fit for Girls is a joint programme between the Youth Sport Trust and sportscotland and is backed by Scottish Government investment of £510,000 over three years. It is aimed at school girls aged 11-16 with the intention of encouraging them to adopt more active lifestyles.
The programme is based on the success of pilot schemes run by 27 secondary schools across Scotland, which resulted in an average increase of girls’ participation from 18% to 27% within the first year. Their strategies included improving changing rooms, introducing new activities, using different deliverers, creating ‘girls only’ sessions, such as girls’ multi-activity clubs, changing PE kit and, most importantly, consulting with the girls. It also recognises and builds on much of the current good practice in schools.
Fit for Girls will be delivered through Scotland’s 380 secondary schools over the next three years and supports the physical activity workforce (teachers, Active Schools co-ordinators and other physical activity staff and volunteers) to increase girls’ participation by producing and implementing an action plan, following attendance at a nationally-delivered workshop. The programme also provides schools with supporting resources including case studies, an ideas pack of solutions to common problems, a DVD demonstrating good practice and a planning guide.
Above all, Fit for Girls wants to bring about a sustainable change that builds a positive future for girls’ participation in lifelong physical activity.
Much of the material produced for Fit for Girls has emerged from Girls in Sport, a Youth Sport Trust programme supported by Nike, published in 2000. The material has been updated and adapted to suit a Scottish context.
The Fit for Girls Case Study Pack is available to download from the Xchange Plus.
For further information email: hazel.williamson@youthsporttrust.org