School sport and sports leaders news

The FA launch new campaign to give all girls equals access to football by 2024

To coincide with International Day of the Girl, The FA launched a new campaign – Let Girls Play – which supports their strategic ambition to give all girls equal access to play football in school by 2024.

The Let Girls Play campaign will inspire and empower communities and schools to want to help make change, unlocking equal opportunities for girls to participate in the sport.

Only 63% of schools currently offer girls’ football in PE lessons and their ambition, as seen in the women’s and girls’ Inspiring Positive Change strategy, is to have 75% of schools providing equal access to football for girls in PE lessons by 2024. The #LetGirlsPlay campaign supports this ambition by encouraging people to stop, listen, and see how they can make a difference to this current challenge.

The campaign’s website provides inspiring resources to help influence the start of change and allow more girls to feel the mental and physical benefits of exercise through playing football.

FA director of women’s football, Baroness Sue Campbell, said “Currently, only a third of girls aged 518 participate in football every week, and we want to change that. Now is the time to drive a farreaching ambition to open up the game in every way to girls, and the Let Girls Play campaign allows parents and teachers to play a huge role in joining us in this commitment.”

Highfields are already taking part in this initiative.

Read more on:

Inspiring Positive Change: https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/oct/19/new-fa-womens-strategy-launched191020#:~:text=Our%20new%20four%2Dyear%20strategy,and%20girls'%20football%20in%20En gland.&text=EARLY%20PARTICIPATION%20%E2%80%93%20Every%20primary%20school,in%20 school%20and%20in%20clubs.

The campaign’s website: https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/oct/11/letgirlsplay-20211011

Breast Cancer Educational Resources for Schools

CoppaFeel! is the first breast cancer charity in the UK to solely create awareness amongst young people, with the aim of instilling the knowledge and the importance of getting to know their bodies.

CoppaFeel! like to talk about a serious message in a light-hearted way, empowering people to start healthy behaviours for life. Read more about CoppaFeel! on their website https://coppafeel.org/

Youth Sport Trust – holiday ideas

Adults/parents – do you like netball?

These netball sessions are aimed at any adult who wants to get active in a fun and friendly environment. It doesn't matter if you haven't played netball since school or never played before. Netball is a great way to meet new people and have a laugh whilst getting active.

Current sessions are run on Monday’s 10.30-11.30am at Arc Leisure Matlock (£3).

What is Walk Derbyshire?

Walk Derbyshire is a social movement that aims to promote all walking opportunities across the County, to create a culture of walking across Derbyshire and make every day walking the norm. Benefits of regular walking:  Reduces anxiety  Lowers blood pressure  Burns calories  Makes you feel good  Builds up relationships with other walkers

Try orienteering

Orienteering is a fun outdoor activity which is suitable for all ages and abilities. The aim is to navigate in sequence between control points marked on a unique orienteering map and decide the best route to complete the course. It does not matter how fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace.

New permanent orienteering courses are now available in four local parks and recreation grounds, maps complete with easy to follow instructions are free to download, just choose the course you want to try from the following list:

 Ashbourne - Ashbourne Recreation Ground https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/images/documents/O/Orienteering_Map__Ashourne_Recreation_Ground.pdf  Bakewell - Bakewell Recreation Ground https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/images/documents/O/Orienteering_Map__Bakewell_Recreation_Ground.pdf  Matlock - Dimple Playing Fields https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/images/documents/O/Orienteering_Map__Dimple_Fields.pdf  Matlock - Hall Leys Park https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/images/documents/O/Orienteering_Map__Hall_Leys_Park.pdf

Matlock Orienteers

Matlock Orienteers hold regular club nights from April to November. Club nights are a great way to have fun and meet new families whilst keeping active. No experience is necessary and they are suitable for all fitness levels, ages and abilities. Everyone is welcome including families and individuals aged 14+.

Derwent Valley orienteering club: https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/component/weblinks/weblink/69-d/187-derwent-valleyorienteering-club