Introducing our This Girl Can advisory panels

by Kate Peers

Strategic lead for campaigns, Sport England

At the heart of our campaign are our women, and our mission is to tackle the gender activity gap by getting more women and girls moving in ways that work for them.

In order to achieve this, it’s key to listen to all women and girls, keeping their views and needs as our North Star.

It’s this insight that tells us about the range of barriers that many women face to being active.

The power of working together

Women from underrepresented communities face a disproportionate number of obstacles because they can experience systemic, social, structural, cultural and financial inequalities – barriers that cannot simply be overcome through personal motivation alone.

So the next phase of This Girl Can is unapologetically focused on tackling inequalities and supporting women from underrepresented backgrounds to get active and to achieve this, we know a collective effort is essential.

We want to work in a truly collaborative way to make sure we’re developing inclusive, representative work and that we’re continually learning from the many different organisations who are already embedded in reducing inequalities.

In order to achieve our mission, it’s key to listen to all women and girls, keeping their views and needs as our Northern star.

That’s why we’re dedicated to partnering with women who have invaluable knowledge and are already making strides in this arena – women whom other women trust and who are true role models for guidance, support and mentorship.

At the start of this year, we established two advisory panels, a Black women’s advisory panel and a South Asian Muslim women’s advisory panel to help us shape, support and steer the next phase of This Girl Can.

Promoting a true sense of belonging

By working with experts in their field, our aim is to ensure the voices of our women are front and centre of the campaign and that the campaign meaningfully connects with Black women and South Asian Muslim women.

I’m delighted to introduce our This Girl Can advisory panel members:

Black women’s advisory panel

Sophia Brown, Founder, Bristol Steppin Sistas
Carol Burrell, Project creator and leader, Swim Sista Swim and Reggarobics
Debra Nelson, Special projects, Football Beyond Borders
Karen Safo-Barnieh Olutogun, Co-Founder, Black Women On Wheels CIC (BWOW)
Jennifer Thomas, Board member, UK Athletics and England Netball
Tasha Thompson, Founder and trustee, Black Girls Do Run

South Asian Muslim women’s advisory panel

Asma Ajaz-Ali, Head of participation and communities, Muslim Sports Foundation
Asia Asghar, Active wellbeing officer and Campaign officer, Nottingham Muslim Women Network
Yashmin Harun, Founder and Chair of Muslimah Sports Association and Frenfords and MSA WFC
Sabeha Miah, Project manager, Cycle Sisters
Farkhanda Muneer, Chair, An-Nisa Women’s Group
Khadija Patel, Chairman of KRIMMZ Girls Youth Club

The panels form part of the broader goals for the next phase of This Girl Can, which sees a concerted effort to reach all women, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, to get active.

This Girl Can’s new phase – ‘Belonging Starts with Inclusion’ – seeks to reduce the barriers that exclude women from exercise by showing how women like them are getting active.

Only when our women are seen, heard and included can they genuinely feel a sense of belonging within the world of physical activity.

We want the campaign to deliver behaviour-change by celebrating all women and by working collaboratively with the organisations providing opportunities for women to get active, to ensure that we are collectively providing the conditions that women need to feel they belong in physical activity.

It’s together that we can create even more spaces and opportunities for our women to move in ways that are right for them and, ultimately, build a world of activity where every woman feels like they belong.

Find out more