FIIT Like a Girl

The 2026 World Happiness Report, produced by Oxford University and the UN, has found that wellbeing among under-25s is declining across English-speaking countries.

This trend is most pronounced amongst girls and heavy social media use has been associated with lower life satisfaction.

Why does this matter to us?

Put simply, when kids are stuck inside on their phones, they’re not outside doing sport and exercise.

This not only impacts their physical health but can have a devastating impact on mental health and wellbeing, as this new research shows.

We need an intervention.

That's why we want to see more support and investment in projects that get women and girls moving and finding joy in sport

That includes our Big Sister initiative, which provides teenage girls with free and discounted gym memberships and access to girls-only sessions.

To learn more about Big Sister and our other projects, sign up to our newsletter today: https://womeninsport.org/explore-the-issues/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/

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45% of girls tell us they don’t have the ‘right’ body shape for sport😪

A recent blog on Netmums by Jen Barton Packer explores a new social media trend she’s worried about her daughters seeing.

The ‘Pilates princess’ trend idolises having a slim, toned frame and a flat stomach, with phrases like ‘Pilates body’ and ‘dream body’ receiving hundreds of thousands of views on platforms like TikTok.

Videos are often introduced with phrases like ‘How I maintain my dream body’ and ‘What I eat in a day to stay toned but not bulky’.

Don’t get us wrong, women should be able to share the joy they find in moving their bodies – that’s not the problem.

The problem is that the next generation of girls are being raised on content like this.

Content that promotes the idea that women and girls should look a certain way in order to be active and prioritises aesthetics over health.

Our charity exists to change that narrative.

To show girls that they belong in sport, no matter what their bodies look like.

Can you support us on our mission?

Donate now: https://womeninsport.org/take-action/donate/

Confidence doesn’t come from getting it right.
It comes from feeling safe enough in your environment to try.

For years it’s been an uncertain time for small businesses. It’s amazing those who have managed to stay open. This post saddens me. Stef and the emporium are such a lovely addition to Harrogate. If you have younger children please consider supporting her if you can x

Here at the Emporium, we’re usually all about magic, sparkle, and happily ever afters. But today, we need to be real for a moment.

Right now, many small businesses like ours are finding things incredibly tough.

This spring, we’re facing rising rent, increasing business rates, and a noticeable slowdown in bookings. We know the wider economy is challenging for most people, but the reality is it’s becoming harder to keep the magic going.

We are also no strangers to balancing personal challenges at home. Over the past year, I’ve taken on home educating my youngest son who has additional needs, and since Christmas I’ve been helping to care for a close family member undergoing cancer treatment. As a result, our beautiful party room now often sits quiet during the weekdays, and we would truly love to see it brought back to life. If you run a baby group, craft club, home education group, or anything community-focused, please do get in touch — we have parking, storage space and tea/coffee facilities, all within our peaceful, beautiful venue. We would love to hear from you and explore how we can support each other.

If you’ve ever visited us, booked a party, or simply followed along and loved what we do, we’d be so grateful for your support right now.

We completely understand that not everyone will be in a position to book a party — and that’s absolutely okay. But if you would still like to support us, even the smallest gesture really does make a difference:
💖 Sharing our page with friends or local groups
💖 Recommending us to someone planning a party
💖 Getting in touch about hiring our space midweek

This little kingdom means so much to so many people. It’s where stories come to life, where children meet fairytale royalty, and where so many special memories have been made.

We know the Enchanted Storybook will one day reach its final chapter… we’re just not ready to close the book yet 😊

Stef 💜💜💜

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Mixed sport doesn’t always mean equal sport📢

According to parents, the biggest barriers for girls taking part in mixed-sex sport are:
➡️ 33% say boys dominating the activity
➡️ 33% say boys being too aggressive
➡️ 30% say fear for physical safety

Our latest research, supported by Metro Bank, explores why girls-only options matter – and what needs to change to close the 24% team sport gender gap.

Read more: https://womeninsport.org/resource/tackling-the-opportunity-gap-in-sport-for-girls/

This is one of my daughters Jess.

She’s a big part of why I launched FiiT Like a Girl in the first place.

Like so many her age, a huge chunk of her teenage years were shaped by the pandemic and that wasn’t easy. What it demanded in resilience, independence and self-belief is something that can’t be underestimate.

And yet… she’s come through it and built something she should be incredibly proud of. I am.

If you’ve got a daughter who’s even slightly curious about football Jess is exactly who you want her around.

She coaches with skill and professionalism, yes.
But more importantly, she coaches with understanding.

she didn’t start as “the coach.”
She started as a girl who just loved playing football That’s the bit that matters.

Well done Jess. I am one proud mum

🐣 Happy Easter Holidays 💛

Classes return on the 15th April

📆Wednesdays

⏰4pm Primary
⏰5pm Teens

📍Oatlands Community Centre

Trainers On 👟
Screens Down📱
Let’s Go 🫶🏻