Our Space for Girls project creates safe, welcoming hubs in key London communities for women and girls to be physically active.
The project aims to serve communities with low activity levels by transforming unused and non-traditional spaces into active hubs.
Space for Girls is a research-led project, with extensive community voice involved within its planning. Consortia of local communities and teenage girls were consulted to ensure the activities on offer were of interest to the target audience, and that the location of the projects were deemed safe and accessible.
Highlighted Projects
Westminster
Roller skating has recently taken off within London, particularly during Covid where people were looking for a fun new form of exercise. The girls at this project are taught the basics of wheel control, balance, routines and safety.
Alongside Roller Skating, cycling training to allow girls to get out on their bikes together and feel confident on the roads.
Southwark
Located in Surrey Quays, the flagship Decathlon store hosts one of our Space for Girls hubs. Sessions on offer for young women include dancing and boxing, both of which are extremely popular and hold waiting lists highlighting the popularity of the scheme.
London-wide
We offer home equipment kits at various projects across London, with the additional option of regular check in and group activities being run at various hubs including the Black Prince Trust.
These kits include access to Les Mills workout videos, alongside equipment to do these and suitable fitness wear.
Project Overview
Only 4 in 10 girls in London are active.
Our research shows that the gender inequality gap in the participation of physical activity is higher in London than elsewhere in the UK. We know that being active has many benefits, which is why we created this project to ensure a generation of young Londoner’s can build a positive active habit for life.
Research also highlights safety as a key barrier with 38% of teenage girls (11-16) feeling unsafe exercising outside. Therefore, utilising the spaces that girls do feel space in is crucial to help girls live happier, healthier and longer lives. This includes non-traditional spaces across London including shopping centres and car parks.
As experts in London, we are uniquely positioned to bring together activity providers and local communities to repurpose under utilised spaces for girls to be active in.
London Sport facilitated extensive consultations with members of local communities, and most importantly the girls we wanted to help find their ways to move.
We hosted 8 focus groups in five locations across London for girls aged 11 to 19 to share their thoughts on how to overcome barriers to activity. We used a variety of research methods to do this including photo elicitation, interviews and group discussions.
Creating spaces where they felt safe and comfortable to be active in was key, as well as providing activities that they would be interested in taking part in.
Through these consultations, we co-designed a six month fully funded activity programme. Through Sport England’s Together Fund, as well as support from other partners, we delivered over 15 projects across the capital.