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ACTIVE ANGELS

Active Angels is an innovative Active England Project funded by the Big Lottery Fund. With the purpose of demonstrating how increasing and sustaining participation in sport and physical activity can have a beneficial impact upon health, the project is aimed at 14 to 16 year old girls who are currently active but at risk of sedentary lifestyles upon leaving school.

The project, which is based at the Peter May Sports Centre in Walthamstow, provides an innovative multi activity programme targeted at inactive girls from neighbouring secondary schools. The overarching aim is to help to the girls develop more healthy lifestyles. In order to achieve these ambitious objectives the Foundation is working in partnership with the School Sport Co-ordinator Programme, Rushcroft Specialist Sports College, 4 secondary schools within walking distance of the centre, The Health Club, Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust, LB Waltham Forest Leisure Services, North & East London Sports Network and Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme. All activities are provided in a non-threatening atmosphere where personal empowerment and raising self-esteem are be paramount.

  

The programme, which is co-ordinated by Tina Dudley, includes: netball, volleyball, badminton, football, aerobics, spinning, boxercise, street jam and junior gym.

CASE STUDY - Laura’s Story
Laura was the kind of girl who didn’t enjoy doing PE in school, in fact she hated it, it wasn’t a subject that she looked forward to, and she would dread it. Getting changed in front of other girls and then having to run about meant that she spent the entire lesson embarrassed. She wasn’t one of the popular girls at school; she was a little bit chubby, and girls would sometimes tease her about it. Laura wasn’t happy with the way she looked but she didn’t know how to change it.

One day Laura’s friend Chloe invited her to a local project called Active Angels, it was held at a Health Club not far from school. So on a Monday after school she went along with Chloe, just to see what it was like as she didn’t have anything better to do. When she arrived she saw that there were girls from other schools, and they were all shapes and sizes. Instantly she felt more comfortable and wished that she had brought her PE kit with her.

The Activity Coordinator Tina came over and spoke to her and explained all the activities that were on offer: Badminton, Netball, Football, Spinning, Street Dance and Junior Gym. She even encouraged her to join in, which she did. She tried Badminton and Netball and loved it. The teachers were really good and so friendly.

After the activities everyone went upstairs and had refreshments in the bar. Here she got to talk to other girls, and she even found out that she could come on a Thursday too.

Laura came to every session, the activities were great, the teachers really friendly and she was making new friends and sometimes she learnt new things too. One week there was a healthy eating workshop. It made Laura think about the food she eats as well as the benefits of participating in sport.

After four or five weeks Laura started noticing things, her clothes became baggier, her skin became clearer and she started to feel better about herself. She liked the changes that were happening, and other people started to notice too. In particular a boy in her class whom she fancied for ages started to notice and asked her out, now she has a boyfriend.

Laura still comes to Active Angels and she rarely misses a session. She still sees the difference it’s making to her life, she’s even got her mum and dad eating more healthy foods. It has given Laura a new found confidence and she’s enjoying her life right now.