Evaluation of the Fit for Girls programme (FfG)
PhD Studentship
Project Description
The Fit for Girls programme was jointly developed between the Youth Sport Trust and sportscotland and is a national roll-out of the ‘Girls in Sport and Physical Activity Initiative’. The pilot took place in 27 secondary schools in Scotland between 2005 and 2007 and was designed to facilitate new ways of engaging girls and young women in physical activity. It consisted of training for PE staff and Active Schools Coordinators based on research evidence and practical experience of issues influencing girls’ participation.
The national roll-out was launched in February 2008 and will be delivered to all secondary schools in Scotland through to 2011. Fit for Girls aims to:
- increase physical activity levels among girls aged 11 to 16 years,
- stimulate discussions around inventive approaches to reverse the trend of girls becoming less active with age,
- give low active girls and young women opportunities and choices to achieve the social, psychological and physical benefits associated with physical activity, and
- bring about sustainable change in schools that builds a positive future for girls’ participation in lifelong physical activity.
The training is offered to all professionals working with this age group within 4-hour workshops. These provide information and include support with planning and implementing a comprehensive plan to increase girls’ participation in PE, physical activity and sport both in and out of school.
CAHRU has been commissioned by sportscotland to evaluate the programme over the next three years and this will include a focus on process (implementation), impact (specific activities and programme outputs at organisational level) and outcome (broader health-related outcomes including change at the individual level). The project will use a range of quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a comprehensive picture of the impact of the programme and the process of implementation.
There will be a particular focus on girls who are low active and within four case study schools, a sub-sample of girls will be involved in longitudinal qualitative work. This will enable the research student to (a) develop relationships with the girls over time and (b) investigate changes in perceptions and participation as the programme progresses. Their accounts will form a significant part of the PhD thesis.
The studentship is supervised by Professor Candace Currie, Director of the Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU), Jo Inchley, Assistant Director and Janine Muldoon, Research Fellow.
Timescale
January 2009 – December 2011
Funding
The evaluation is funded by sportscotland.
Contacts
- Professor Candace Currie (CAHRU Director/HBSC International Coordinator)
- Jo Inchley (Assistant Director)
- Janine Muldoon (Research Fellow)
- Fiona Mitchell (Research Student)