Women’s Sport Week takes place between 19- 25 June. Although the campaign comes before a packed summer of elite sport, the Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme is making waves at grassroots level across the UK. To mark the week, GOGA is celebrating some of the fantastic women working on the programme. Today, we hear from Emma from Volunteering Matters about her aspirations for GOGA.

GOGA, funded by Spirit of 2012, is an exciting new programme that supports disabled and non‑disabled people to take part in fun and inclusive activities together. It aims to make activity more appealing for everyone. Working in 18 different areas across the UK, partners are delivering over 30,000 sessions over three years.

The Women’s Sport Week campaign encourages the public to have fun and celebrate this vintage summer of women’s sport by watching, listening, volunteering and taking part in sporting activities. Those involved hope the campaign generates debate and encourages people to show their support, in order to help more women and girls reach their full potential through sport.

Volunteering Matters delivers high social impact volunteer projects across the UK in response to some of the most difficult challenges facing individuals and their communities today. They engage more than 30,000 volunteers and 90,000 beneficiaries every year through 180 active programmes. They believe that everyone can play a role in their community and should have the chance to participate, building projects and programmes to reflect this.

They will deliver a consistent, high-quality volunteering programme. It will champion and fully adhere to the Sprit of 2012 Trust’s Volunteer Principles and EFDS’ Talk to Me Principles.

Emma Thomas-Hancock, Director of Volunteering Delivery at Volunteering Matters

I represent Volunteering Matters at the GOGA national steering group and oversee the delivery of the GOGA Volunteering programme. 

Volunteering Matters is the national GOGA volunteering partner. Volunteers are playing a key role in helping and supporting people to get active. It is the commitment and dedication of the volunteers that will help embed the sustainability and long term impact of GOGA and support more people to get active.

I love walking and am devoted to my Fitbit. I ALWAYS do at least 10,000 steps!

As a mother of two teenage daughters, I can see how motivated and inspired they are by our great sports women. I can also see how playing football with other young women instils a sense of power and self-confidence in them as individuals.

Find more information by emailing the team or calling 01509 227750. Follow the campaign on #WSW2017 or GOGA conversation on #GetOutGetActive.