Why it matters
Physical activity improves the lives of young people
...by boosting their physical health, mental wellbeing, and confidence. It also promotes positive self-esteem and lowers levels of stress and anxiety (Public Health England, 2020).
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Importantly, evidence suggests that the benefits of physical activity are likely to continue into adulthood (Chalkley and Milton, 2021).
However,
Currently, less than half of children in the UK are meeting the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines of a minimum of sixty minutes of physical activity per day, and overall, girls are less active than boys (Active Lives Survey CYP, Sport England, 2022-2023).
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A study led by Women in Sport (2022) found that 43% of teenage girls drop out of sport in their teenage years. There are a number of reasons why teenage girls drop out of sport: 61% feel judged, 50% lack self-belief, and 38% don't feel safe exercising outside.
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Did you know?
It's not just about about health. Participation in physical activity is positively linked with academic achievement (Youth Sport Trust, 2022). Coupled with sport's power to build resilience and confidence in young people, being active as a teen can dramatically impact girls' later lives. ​One study (Ernst & Young, 2013) found that in a group of 821 female CEOs, 96% of them played sport when they were younger.
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Stronger,
happier,
healthier and
more confident
...Is how we want our girls to feel, and at Our Goal we know that physical activity is the perfect vehicle for that. By integrating physical activity into our programme in a way that is relevant and inspiring for teenage girls, we're increasing their activity levels and consequently contributing to their improved mental wellbeing.
Our young mentors are role models for girls in their local area and example of the power of physical activity.