Sussex hosts inspiring "This Girl Can" event

Eight Brighton and Hove schools joined the second-ever This Girl Can Be Inspired event, aimed at empowering girls through sport, wellbeing, and education.

Brighton and Hove School Games Organiser Emma Greenough, Gemma Finlay-Gray from Active Sussex, and Charlotte Burton from Sussex Cricket organised the event, which was held on Friday, March 14, at The 1st Central County Ground. 

It offered an inspiring and educational experience for students, with each participating school bringing ten students to explore topics such as the menstrual cycle, the importance of sports bras, and their experiences of sport and physical activity in school.

This year’s guest speaker, Manjinder Nagra, a former international rugby player and past president of the Sussex Law Society, shared her inspiring journey. 

Manjinder recounted her path from discovering rugby at university to representing England Students and England South, becoming the first Asian woman to play at that level. 

Although her family had different expectations for her future, she described rugby as “the best life decision I made.” 

Her involvement in the sport not only shaped her career in law, but also inspired her to establish a girls’ rugby section at Hove Rugby Club and a multicultural walking rugby group in Hangleton for participants aged 18 to 82.

Manjinder encouraged students to “dream big, be bold, and back yourself,” while emphasising the importance of surrounding themselves with supportive people.

The event addressed key issues surrounding girls’ participation in sport, such as the Sport England Active Lives CYP data, which found that while 51 per cent of boys are likely to be active, only 45 per cent of girls participate regularly. 

In Brighton & Hove, the Safe and Well at School Survey discovered only 15 per cent of girls were active for one hour a day compared to 27 per cent of boys.

Meanwhile, the Youth Sport Trust Girls Get Active Data 2024 found 62 per cent of girls expressed a desire to be more active at school, but reported barriers such as lack of confidence and concerns about exercising during their periods. 

While 86 per cent of girls aged 7-8 say they enjoy PE, this number drops significantly to just 56 per cent among 14-15 year-olds.

Workshops throughout the day provided valuable insights. 

Emily Allen, founder of EmPower, explained how hormones impact mood, energy, and performance during the menstrual cycle. 

She also discussed how these hormonal changes can affect being active, and provided teachers with practical ideas to support girls during PE, such as incorporating more skill-based drills at the start of a class and including aerobic exercises. 

Emily encouraged girls to track their cycles to better understand their bodies, calling it “one of the most empowering things you can do.” 

Each student was also given a Fab Little Bag to keep in their PE kits.

Charlotte Gill, co-founder of PeBe Sports Bra, spoke about the importance of wearing a well-fitted sports bra, explaining that breast movement is one of the biggest barriers to girls participating in exercise. 

She emphasised the importance of checking bra fit regularly, as breast movement follows a figure-of-eight pattern, with the average breast weighing 1.5kg, and that wearing incorrect underwear can cause health problems as well as impact performance.

The event also showcased positive changes introduced in local schools following last year’s event, including greater flexibility around PE kit choices, alternative after-school clubs, and improved access to period products.

Organisers hope more changes will come following the youth voice session, where students were asked what barriers stop them from participating and enjoying PE and school sport.

Students praised the event for its depth and informative sessions. One student commented: “We’ve learned about this at school before, but not in such detail. They really went into it.”

Teachers also found the day invaluable. Rob Cornell, Head of PE at Kings, said: “I found it fascinating. The discussion about how the menstrual cycle affects sport was eye-opening and important for encouraging girls to be kinder to themselves.” 

Amy Lane, Active for Life Apprentice from Brighton and Hove City Council, added: “It has been interesting to hear so much youth voice throughout the day.”

The This Girl Can Be Inspired event continues to play a crucial role in breaking down barriers, empowering girls to engage in sport, and ensuring they feel supported and confident in their journey to lead active lives.