Tower Hamlets women invited to get healthy

Women living in property to rent in Tower Hamlets will have the chance to lead healthier lifestyles thanks to a new initiative in the borough.

The Sport4Women programme, run by Tower Hamlets Council in partnership with Greenwich Leisure Limited, aims to get 1,400 females physically active within three years by providing women-only sports sessions in leisure centres and community venues.

Sport England's Active Women Fund has invested £261,945 in the project, while the content of the sessions has been decided by local consultations.

These consultations also identified the major barriers to participation at present as cost, timing of activities and a lack of women-only facilities.

It is hoped the programme - which launches this month with badminton, basketball, netball, swimming and group exercise - will go some way towards tackling the gender gap in sport.

New figures have revealed only one in eight women take part in sport on a regular basis, compared to one in five men, with the figures decreasing to one in ten females in some parts of Tower Hamlets.

Participants will be given the chance to get involved in coached or casual play sessions in a female only environment with creche facilities, as well as gain coaching qualifications to enable them to run their own.

Commenting on the scheme, chief executive of Sport England Jennie Price said: "The projects we're funding have asked local women what is preventing them from getting involved and what sports interest them, before coming up with an offer that is appealing and accessible."

Meanwhile, Councillor Rania Khan, cabinet member for culture on Tower Hamlets Council remarked: "Working women and mums lead hectic lifestyles and anything we can do to make it easier for them to get fit and active is welcome. Sport4Women is a great idea and will encourage more women to make sport a regular fixture in their daily lives. I hope the Olympics will also inspire residents to give sport a try."

The scheme kicks off on September 12th at Mile End Park Leisure Centre from 12:00 BST, with women given the chance to try out a number of sports as well as free relaxation treatments and find out about weight management and healthy living programmes.

Posted by Chris Price

Published 6th September, 2011

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