New Leader Training to support existing and new locations
1
The Pitch
Problem statement
Our aim is to improve women's physical and mental health by supporting them to become more active and connected through running in their local community. Our running groups address several issues. 1. Tackling inactivity - it is estimated that 20% of the population are inactive, doing less than 30 minutes of exercise a week. 2. Tackling lower female participation in sport - 36% of women are physically active once a week, compared to 53% of men. 3. Tackling mental health - people who are more socially connected to family, friends, or their community are happier, physically healthier and live longer, with fewer mental health problems than people who are less well connected.
Solution
Our women's only running groups provide a supportive and non-competitive environment for women to become active and connected to other like minded women in their community. All our running sessions are free and always will be. Funding will be spent on training new volunteer leaders to ensure our existing locations continue and to enable us to set up in three new locations in 2022 in East Anglia. Based on our current level of participation, through expanding our locations we would expect up to 45 women to join our regular steady runs and up to 90 women to start running with our Couch to 5K programmes.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
We are passionate about our mission to inspire women to lead healthier, happier more connected lives. We have a simple model in which we support women to become run leaders and establish running groups in their community. We have built experience and understanding what is required to make a group successful. Since we began the group in 2016 we have steadily grown and are extremely proud to now have groups in 10 locations with 50 leaders and 1000 members. We will target our new locations to be in parts of East Anglia currently not well served by other sports clubs or groups and ensure that our sessions are always free.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Training costs for 12 new leaders at £200 per person | £2,400 |
Beneficiaries
50 people
Expected impact
Establish the groups in three new locations, offering steady regular runs and Couch to 5K programmes at each location.
Track record
"I loved the idea of joining a ladies only running group, which would allow me to start running with people who were at the same ability as me. I am so glad I made the decision to go that night, and I have been to every session since! It is a lovely, friendly, supportive bunch of ladies who just like to go out and run together. You never notice the miles you are putting in as you are busy chatting and laughing your way along.." "Let's Run Girls is a fantastically supportive and friendly running group. I joined last September having become increasingly sedentary and unfit. I worked up to being able to comfortably run 5K over a few months and was then inspired by others in the group to sign up for the Cambridge Half Marathon in March which I completed and now consider a life achievement. I am now a run leader and love giving back to the group and supporting others to achieve what they might not have thought possible."