'This Girl Can - Be Inspired' Comes to Hove

'This Girl Can - Be Inspired' Comes to Hove

On Friday 20th March, the Sussex Cricket Foundation (SCF) supported and hosted Brighton & Hove City Council at The County Ground, for the third year running of ‘This Girl Can – Be Inspired'. The event was attended by almost 80 year 8 & 9 girls from 7 local Brighton Secondary Schools, and built on the success of previous years, proving a positive and impactful event once again.

The event, run in partnership with the Brighton & Hove City Council – School Games Organiser, SCF and Active Sussex, provides girls with the opportunity to come and take part in workshops around health & wellbeing in sport & physical activity, as well as hearing from inspirational female speakers in sport.

This year Ayscha Woods supported the event in its planning and delivery, and organised a fantastic collaboration between SCF and Sussex Cricket, in a joined-up approach, inviting along Sussex Women’s Head Coach – Alexia Walker, Captain – Chiara Green, and Physio – Alex Myall to attend and deliver an inspirational speech. The three women shared their journey into sport, what it means to them and highlighted the different ways to be involved in sport. 

The students also took part in workshops around how to measure and find the correct sports bra led by Team PeBe and EmPower Health led a workshop on being active and menstrual cycles. 

The girls also took part in student voice activities with their PE teachers to discuss barriers that still impact girls’ participation in sport and physical activity both in and out of school. We know that in Brighton & Hove from our SAWSS survey 2024 that only 15% of secondary age girls said they got 1 hour of physical activity every day in the past 7 days, compared to 27% of boys.

From these student voice activities we will be working with the cities secondary schools to create ‘This Girl Can Brighton and Hove School Pledges’ to break down these barriers and give girls more opportunities to be active.

On the event, Emma Greenough School Games Organiser said; 

These events are so important to give girls the opportunity and space to learn more about how to choose the right sports bra and the effects the menstrual cycle has when you're being active.

"It’s a really positive space for girls to have conversations and ask questions to experts in their fields. Having inspirational speakers from the world of sport, also gives the girls the opportunity to see what they could do after school and why being physically active is so important for your health and wellbeing."

Ayscha Woods, Women & Girls / Diverse Communities Manager for the Foundation said;

It was a delight to support this event in partnership with B&HCC and Active Sussex, and we welcomed the opportunity to host the event again this year at the inspirational venue here at The County Ground, Hove.

"It was brilliant to have Alexia, Chiara and Alex from the Sussex Women’s setup attending and delivering inspirational speeches – speaking so eloquently, naturally and positively about sport, equality and mental health. They are tremendous role models at the club and it was a joy to see the girls attending the event asking questions and getting involved."

"The workshops delivered by Team PeBe and EmPower were highly engaging and I can honestly say that the feedback from the girls was incredible. At the end of the day responses on how the girls were feeling were collected and from 52 responses, 49 reported that they felt ‘positive’ (45) and ‘relieved’ (4). This event aims to make a real, meaningful difference and impact in our local community and I can wholeheartedly say that this event continues to achieve its aim and inspire girls to feel confident in being physically active. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with B&HCC and Active Sussex in the future.”

To find out more about the partners involved in the event, please visit their websites below:

Active Sussex - This Girl Can Sussex network  |  Team PeBe  |  EmPower Health

If you would like to find out more about the opportunities on offer for women & girls across Sussex through the network of cricket clubs, please contact Ayscha Woods: ayscha.woods@sussexcricket.co.uk.