PRIMARY SCHOOL GIRLS INSPIRED TO REMAIN ACTIVE

‘Girls Active’ is an initiative from the Youth Sport Trust charity, which is run in partnership with Women in Sport. The programme aims to tackle the declining participation in physical activity by girls and its associated implications for health, wellbeing and academic attainment. The programme also encourages teachers and girls to work together, empowering them to take positive action through influencing, leadership and inspiring their peers.

Joining over 45 primary school girls aged 9-12 years was Irish Olympian Shirley McCay, who shared her own personal journey in sport leading to the pinnacle of her career in representing Ireland at the Olympic Games. Speaking about the highs and lows of her sporting career, Shirley encouraged each girl to believe in themselves, to keep working towards their dreams and to never give up even when things seem impossible.

Thanks to funding from Sport NI, through the District Council Community Planning 23/24 Investment Programme, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough (ABC) Council has teamed up again with the Youth Sport Trust to deliver this programme for the first time with local primary schools, following the success with secondary schools.

Throughout the event, the girls took part in a range of different activities including dance and exercises, team building games and workshops focusing on leadership, marketing and action planning. The action plans developed on the day will help the girls and teachers work together to engage more girls to be active within school.

The Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Sorcha McGeown commented: “These initiatives are so important to ensure girls are actively engaged with the design and delivery of activities that will lead to improved opportunities that appeal to all girls. Following on from the success of our girls’ leadership work within local secondary schools, and thanks to funding from Sport NI, we can now support primary schools to develop ‘Girls Active Leaders’ within their school. I wish the all the girls involved in the programme every success.”

Richard Archibald, Interim CEO at Sport NI said: “We are delighted to fund the Girls Active programme to inspire girls’ active participation in sport and physical activity. Together with our partners at Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council and the Youth Sport Trust we are working to remove the barriers girls and women face when participating in sport.

“At Sport NI we believe in the power of sport to change lives. Sport and physical activity have a positive impact on our physical and mental health & wellbeing, and programmes like these empower girls and young women with the right tools and information to participate and enjoy sport.”

For more information, please email Amanda Mogey, Sports Development Officer: