US GIRLS CELEBRATES IT S 2,000TH MEMBER at the Us GIRLS ROCKS EVENT

11 May 2016 US GIRLS CELEBRATES IT’S 2,000TH MEMBER AT THE Us GIRLS ROCKS EVENT

Us Girls, an initiative launched by StreetGames aimed at getting girls throughout Wales who live in areas of deprivation more physically active, has recruited its 2,000th member and celebrated the landmark by hosting ‘Us Girls Rocks’ in Cardiff, with over 200 attendees from across Wales.

Aimed at girls aged between 13 to 19, Us Girls has had a big impact since its launch last May (2015) and Sam Gator, a 14 year old from Caerphilly has become the 2,000th Us Girls member.

Sam attends Risca Comprehensive and lives with her foster parents in Caerphilly. Originally shy and unsure about taking part in the Us Girls sessions, Sam now attends two local Us Girls hubs, one in Bedwas and the other in Lansbury and participates in a variety of different sports, including Basketball, Touch Rugby, Circuits, Netball and Dance.

Encouraged by Us Girls Big Sisters, local volunteers who have helped build her confidence and engagement, Sam is now one of the regular faces in these sessions and is being encouraged to lead within her favourite activity of Netball.

Sam commented: “Thanks to Us Girls and the Big Sisters I’ve become much more confident and eager to try new sports. Without the Big Sisters’ constant support and encouragement, I would not be the person that I am today. Taking part in these sessions has not only helped me with engaging in sports but it has also helped me be much more confident in school.”

The Us Girls Rocks event was held at the Cardiff and Vale College on Sunday 17 th April and offered 25 different activities that the girls could participate in, ranging from WRU Women’s rugby, British Rowing and Glow Sports. Over 200 girls aged between 13 and 19 from across Wales attended the event, showcasing the success and positive effects of the Us Girls initiative.

Jess Morgan, Us Girls Wales Manager, commenting on the success of the event said: “We are extremely proud of what Sam has achieved and are delighted she is our 2,000th member within the Us Girls initiative. The Us Girls Rocks event was not only a celebratory occasion but also a showcase of what we have managed to achieve in our first year.

“ The future of Us Girls is very bright as we are growing day by day with more and more girls wanting to take part in sessions and with interest in the Big Sisters program also thriving. This means that we are on the way to making a huge difference in the level of girls participating in sports throughout Wales and breaking down barriers.”

In their first year, Us Girls has engage with 26 different projects and over 150 organisations across the StreetGames network, such as, The Women’s Equality Network and Full Circle.

Notes to Editors:

 StreetGames (www.streetgames.org) is an award-winning national sports charity supported by The Welsh Government, Sport Wales, and a number of commercial partners to increase sport and physical activity across all Communities 1st clusters in Wales.

 It helps makes sport accessible to young people living in areas of high deprivation across the UK. Its delivery method is Doorstep sport the 5 Rights – right time, right price, right place and right style with the right people

 The aim of each StreetGames project is for sport and physical activity to be sustainable and become part of the fabric of the community. This leads to stronger and safer communities, a championing of social action and volunteering, as well as improved health and wellbeing

 StreetGames is a lead agency for trying to ensure increased participation in sport from Black Minority and Ethnic (BME) communities in Wales

 Communities First is the Welsh Government’s flagship programme set up throughout Wales in 2001 to be active in areas which are in the top 10% of social deprivation; according to the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD)