This Sunday (8 March) 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 per cent of women take part in sport and active recreation for 30 minutes, three times a week. This is compared to 29 per cent of men – highlighting the considerable gap between the sexes.
On Sunday, all ten 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 12-2pm. 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 first hand.
Jennie said: “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 currently 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, Lifestyles Peter Lloyd
