Women and Girls Like Us

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Women and girls across Essex face unique barriers when it comes to being active. From confidence and time pressures, to cultural expectations, past experiences, and the belief that “sport” isn’t designed for them. The Women and Girls Like Us campaign aims to challenge these perceptions.

Our campaign shines a light on the real experiences, voices, and journeys of women and girls across our county. We celebrate movement in all its forms. Whether you’re taking your very first step or returning after some time away, we’re here to make getting active feel welcoming, flexible, and judgement‑free.

Women and Girls Like Us is evolving with a new campaign theme: Wellbeing Without Barriers, a refreshed focus that puts how movement makes you feel at the centre of everything we do. For some, activity can feel competitive, intimidating, or simply not designed for them.

This new theme directly responds to these challenges, shifting the narrative towards support, safety, honesty, and improving wellbeing. This is a campaign that meets women and girls where they are, not where they’re expected to be.

Key Principles

Breaking down barriers

Identifying and overcoming obstacles such as stereotypes, lack of opportunities, or confidence issues that prevent women and girls from engaging in sports or physical activity.

Inspiring participation

Encouraging women and girls to rediscover the joy and benefits of staying active, promoting both mental and physical wellbeing.

Changing perceptions

Challenging societal norms and promoting a more inclusive view of sports and physical activity as being for everyone, regardless of age, gender or ability.

Begin Where You Are

Recognising that everyone begins from a different place and ensuring activity feels welcoming, flexible and non‑structured.

Take a look at our leaflet

Download

Utilise our WGLU branding pack here

Download

Learn more about women and girls across our Essex communities

Meet Lilian from Move It or Lose It in Canvey

Visit link

Hear from Bangladeshi Women’s Association Essex (BWAE)

Visit link

Tell Your Story!

Tell us your story, whether that is about you, your organisation or a specific project you have been involved in! Let our communications team know if you have any issues. You will find their details at the bottom of this page.

Step 1 of 5

Name of individual submitting the story

Is the story about yourself?

Yes

It's about my project/organisation

No, it's about someone else

Name of the individual/group your story is about

Name of Organisation

Email Address

Provide your contact number

Area you are based in

To comply with data protection legislation, we need your written consent to use your information (still/moving image, audio and words). We will keep and use your information, in the context in which it was taken, for five years. The data controller is Essex County Council. Your contact details are required so that you can be contacted should we need to. Please note, published images can be viewed throughout the world and not just in the United Kingdom where UK law applies. By ticking the box below and signing this form, you are giving your consent for Essex County Council and Active Essex to use the information in the following ways:

Active Essex broadcast channels such as websites, social media, e-newsletters, printed and electronic materials (flyers, leaflets, brochures, banners etc) and media releases, including national media.(Required)

Yes

To give your own consent, please print your name below.

To give parental/guardian consent for an individual or child under the age of 13, please print your name below.

Please note in relation to this use of your personal data you have the following rights. • To be informed • To correct any inaccurate data • To have the use of your data restricted •To access the data • To have your data deleted • To object to the use of your data Essex County Council fully complies with information legislation. If you would like the full details of how we use personal data, and the rights you have about its use, please go to www.essex.gov.uk/privacy You may withdraw consent at any time by emailing [email protected] and stating the reference number at the top of this form. Images and associated personal information will be held securely. Images of historical value may be held indefinitely in the public record. For more details, please go to our Privacy Notice at essex.gov.uk/privacy. For comments and complaints about the handling of your personal information you can write to our Business Support Team at [email protected]