Women can get fit for free!
ON Sunday, 8 March 2015, is not a day of
rest as the women of Liverpool are going to be encouraged to get active.
Liverpool City Council will be throwing its support behind the national This
Girl Can campaign on Sunday which is International Women's Day. The campaign is
all about celebrating active females and encouraging those who don't do any
activity to try something new.
The most recent Active People Survey revealed that in Liverpool, just 15%of
women take part in sport and active recreation for 30 minutes, 3 times a week.
This is compared to 29% of men; highlighting the considerable gap between the
sexes.
On Sunday, all 10 Lifestyles Centres in the City will give free access to women.
This includes everything from using the gym, swimming pool, hiring courts or
pitches or taking part in an exercise class.
Other organisations will also be offering free access activities including the
Mersey Bowman Tennis Club in Sefton Park which is offering free coaching to any
ability from 12pm to 2pm. Friends of Everton Park, West Everton Community
Council and Shrewsy Youth and Community Club have joined forces and at 1pm will be
organising a 1km run followed by a tug of war competition and a karate
demonstration. Any female interested in taking part should meet in the car park
opposite Prince Edwin Street at 1pm.
From 1.30pm in Paradise Place, Liverpool ONE, there will be taster sessions of
sports such as boxing, netball, hula hooping and jive dancing.
Assistant Mayor and cabinet member for culture, tourism and events, Councillor
Wendy Simon, said:- "Sunday is all about inspiring and encouraging women
to get active; whether it's trying out a brand new activity, or going back to a
sport after some time away from it.
The 'This Girl Can' campaign and International Women's Day are both so empowering; they have really strong and positive messages and we're
delighted that on Sunday so many women in Liverpool will be out in force
celebrating getting active. From hula hooping to taekwondo; there will be a
whole host of special events across the City. And with all our Lifestyles
Centres offering free sessions; there are lots of opportunities for all women to
join in, get active, and have fun at the same time. There are the obvious health
benefits but also there is the social side of taking up a sport, which is hugely
important and can build confidence and generally improve self esteem which is
invaluable."
This Girl Can is a national campaign developed by Sports England.
Jennie Price, Sports England Chief Executive will be in the City on Sunday to
see all the activities 1st hand. "The thing that has struck me most
about the reaction to This Girl Can is the sheer number of women and girls who
have embraced it. Women across England, and around the world, are telling us how
much they welcome the campaign and how it has inspired them to exercise or try a
new sport.
International Women Day is a great opportunity for all of us - regardless of
shape, fitness or ability; to celebrate being active."
The City Council operates ten Lifestyles Centres which are:-
Lifestyles Alsop; Lifestyles Austin Rawlinson; Lifestyles Cardinal Heenan;
Lifestyles Ellergreen; Lifestyles Garston; Lifestyles Everton Park; Lifestyles
Millennium Gym; Lifestyles Aquatics Centre; Lifestyles Park Road and also Lifestyles
Peter Lloyd.
If you attended, please let us know what you think of the events by emailing us to:- news24@southportreporter.com.
