Bourne Academy Students Represent the Voice of Teenage Girls at National Youth Sport Trust Conference

Invited to attend the national event, the students shared their work on breaking down barriers to girls’ participation in sport and physical activity. Over the past year, the GALS have been working together to explore the challenges many girls face during adolescence, particularly the impact of puberty, confidence, and social pressures on participation in sport.

 

Together with more than 100 delegates from across the education and sport sectors, Bourne Academy were the only students in the room and they contributed to a workshop titled “From Childhood to Womanhood”.

 

Each GALS member was stationed at a table with around ten adult delegates as they single-handedly led the discussion, sharing their experiences and guiding conversations around topics including puberty, periods, the impact of social media, and the influence of boys on girls’ confidence in sport and physical activity. Their honesty, insight and maturity provided professionals with a powerful and authentic perspective from teenage girls themselves.

 

Emma Timlett, staff member who supported the students throughout the project and presented alongside them at the conference, said: “The girls represented The Bourne Academy with incredible confidence and maturity. Over the past year they have worked hard to explore the barriers girls face in sport, and it was inspiring to see them share their experiences so openly with professionals from across the country. Watching their confidence grow throughout the day was a moment I will always be incredibly proud of.”

 

Beyond the workshop, the students also explored the conference exhibition, speaking with organisations and professionals from across the sport and education sectors. Delegates were quick to praise the girls’ confidence, enthusiasm and positive attitude, with many commenting on the lasting impression they made throughout the event.

 

The experience marked a huge moment of personal growth for the students, who began the day nervously navigating their first stop at a motorway service station and ended it confidently networking with professionals at a national conference.

 

The conversations sparked at the conference are far from over. Even on the journey home, the students were already sharing ideas and discussing new ways to continue promoting the importance of physical activity and building confidence for girls.

 

With several new initiatives already being planned by the GALS, The Bourne Academy looks forward to sharing more about their ongoing work in the coming weeks.

 

The Bourne Academy would like to thank everyone who supported the opportunity for the students to attend and represent their peers on a national stage we incredibly proud of our Girls Active Leadership Squad and the positive impact they continue to make.