At NE Youth we welcome the return of Sport England’s groundbreaking This Girl Can campaign with a powerful new message: We Like the Way You Move.
The campaign is rewriting the narrative of what women getting active looks like, championing movement in all its forms, from dancing in the kitchen to wheelchair rugby. Its goal is simple but urgent: to unlock the possibility of movement for the many women and girls who currently feel they don’t belong in the world of sport and physical activity.
At NE Youth, this message resonates deeply. Every day in our youth spaces we see the barriers that prevent young women from taking part and the transformative difference when youth work creates opportunities to move.
The barriers girls face in free time
Free time, whether after school, at weekends, or in the holidays – should be a chance for fun, friendship and freedom. But for too many girls in our communities, it’s when inequality and inactivity deepen. Research from Sport England tells us:
• 29.6% of young people do less than 30 minutes of daily activity, well below national guidelines.
• Among the least affluent families, only 45% meet activity levels, compared to 57% of the most affluent.
• Girls are particularly at risk of dropping out of activity, citing pressures around body image, confidence, cost and transport.
In places like Barmoor, Fenham, Winlaton, Lemington, Kenton and Throckley, these barriers are felt most sharply. Camps and clubs are out of reach financially. Local options are limited. And too often, girls tell us they don’t feel “sporty enough” to join in.
Why movement matters for mental health
The statistics on girls’ mental health make this picture even more urgent:
• Around 20% of adolescents experience a mental health problem in any given year, with girls reporting higher levels of anxiety and low mood.
• Globally, 85% of adolescent girls aren’t active enough.
• Research shows physical activity can reduce depression and anxiety by up to 40%, and an extra hour of activity at age 11 lowers the risk of later psychiatric diagnoses by 12%.
Movement is not just about fitness — it’s a vital tool for confidence, wellbeing and resilience.
The youth work response
This is where youth work steps in. Our job isn’t to turn every girl into an athlete it’s to make movement fun, social, accessible and confidence-building.
That could mean paddleboarding on the river, orienteering with friends, or simply dancing in the youth centre. Because of the trusted relationships youth workers build year-round, girls feel safe to try new things, supported when they lack confidence, and celebrated for moving in ways that work for them.
Healing Hearts and Minds
We also know some young women need tailored support. That’s why NE Youth has a programme called Healing Hearts and Minds, a one-to-one mentoring programme for young women aged 16–25 who are neurodiverse and/or struggling with their mental health.
Using an individualised, trauma-informed approach, we help each young woman get the support she needs to flourish in her life. Generously funded by the Pilgrim Trust, the programme is open to referrals from across our Membership.
📧 For referral forms or more information, please contact: jessica.wearmouth@neyouth.org.uk
Closing thought
The This Girl Can campaign celebrates the truth we see in youth work: when girls are free to move in ways that feel safe, local and welcoming, the impact goes far beyond physical health. It builds confidence, friendships, resilience and joy.
That’s why NE Youth will keep working to break down barriers, champion movement, and support young women to heal hearts, strengthen minds, and flourish.
