Seven in 10 women want to do more outdoor activity but time and confidence holds them back, finds This Girl Can
- Not having enough time (19%) is one of the biggest barriers for Asian women getting active outdoors
- Limited access to local green spaces (21%) are top barriers for Black women to getting active outdoors
- Not feeling fit enough, not having enough time and feeling self-conscious are top barriers to women getting active outdoors
- This Girl Can is encouraging women to get active outdoors this summer as part of the new Let’s Get Out There initiative
Saheli Hub Birmingham – This Girl Can. Photo Lucy Ray/PA Media Assignments
Seven in 10 (70%) women would like to do more physical activity outdoors, but are held back by multiple barriers, according to research released today.
This Girl Can – the nationwide campaign from Sport England to support all women to get active – recognises the barriers are felt even more by certain communities. One of the biggest barriers for Asian women is not having enough time (19%), while not having access to a local green space (21%) is a top barrier for Black women.
As part of Let’s Get Out There, This Girl Can is highlighting four groups across the country helping women from diverse communities to get active outside this summer. By giving a platform to the groups already paving the way in this space, This Girl Can hopes to inspire the inception of more groups across the country, as well as showing women there are groups out there for them. This includes Swim Sista Swim in Nottingham, Saheli Hub in Birmingham, Blaze Trails in York and Muslimah Sports Association in East London.
Leader of Muslimah Sports Association, a group offering a safe space for Muslim women to enjoy exercise, Yashmin Harun comments: “As an organisation working with specific groups, we need to understand specific cultural sensitivities, such as aversions to dogs and adherence to prayer times. This helps to create an environment where Muslim women feel comfortable to get active outdoors and can voice their needs without fear of judgement.”
Swim Sister Swim canoe Pictured (l-r)Carol Burrell,, Audrey Martin, Sharon Thomas and Janet Rose. Photo: Fabio De Paola/PA Media Assignments
Women in the UK found that not feeling fit enough (25%), not having enough time (25%), not wanting to show their bodies (15%) and not having anyone to get active with (14%) are the biggest barriers women face to getting active outdoors.
The women surveyed said more time to exercise outdoors (24%), having access to a space where there aren’t lots of people (21%) and having someone to exercise with (19%) would help them to get active outdoors.
Kate Dale, Director of Marketing at Sport England and This Girl Can, said: “With the weather hopefully warming up this summer, women want to get active outdoors – but numerous barriers like not having enough time, feeling self-conscious and not having anyone to go with are holding them back. Some of these are felt even more by different communities.
This Girl Can. Photo: Jas Lehal/PA Media Assignments
“This Girl Can celebrates and supports women being active in a way that’s right for them. Let’s Get Out There is highlighting the great work that community leaders are already doing to help every woman enjoy the benefits of outdoor activity.”
With the support of Forestry England, Canal & River Trust and Ordnance Survey, Let’s Get Out There is highlighting the work of these organisations and community leaders to help reduce barriers for women to get active outdoors and encourage others across the sector to follow suit.
The campaign aims for women to think of nature and outdoor spaces as places to enjoy, for both improving their physical health at low costs and general wellbeing.
To find out more visit: https://www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/news/lets-get-out-there
With thanks to This Girl Can
