PhD Studentship: Sport and Exercise Science: #ifyougoigo: Challenging stereotypes and barriers to participation to get more teenage girls, more active, more often

This MSc by Research project presents a unique opportunity for an individual to be embedded within a Local Authority (LA) to evaluate their #ifyougoigo campaign. The candidate will work closely with practitioners and service providers at Torfaen County Borough Council, researchers at the Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Health and Sport (WIPAHS; a pan-Wales collaboration between each of the eight Welsh Higher Education Institutes and Sport Wales), and teenage girls attending the #ifyougoigo sessions, to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the programme.

The #ifyougoigo campaign aims to get more teenage girls, more active, more often throughout the Torfaen LA. As part of this campaign, the Sports Development Team work in partnership with Torfaen Leisure Trust to run a physical activity programme for girls aged 13–18 years. The free, 10-week #ifyougoigo programme allows participants to take part in weekly group sessions and receive personalised 1-1 support, mentoring, and guidance targeted towards the long-term adoption of a healthier lifestyle. Girls on the programme also access Torfaen Leisure Trust classes and gyms and are supported to connect with local community sports clubs.

The physical and mental health benefits of physical activity are well-established; however, low levels of physical activity, particularly among adolescent girls, persist. The Behaviour Change Wheel (Michie et al., 2011) highlights that behaviour is likely to be influenced by multiple factors, namely interactions between an individual’s Capability, Opportunity and Motivation (COM-B model). #ifyougoigo aims to remove practical barriers and work to change how girls feel and think about physical activity, exercise, and sport. Evidence and insight show that girls are far more likely to participate in physical activity if they have someone to go with them. This principle of peer support/companionship, along with the provision of a person-centred approach within a socially inclusive, professionally supported environment, is core to the design of the campaign.

The key aims of this MSc project are to:

•  - Identify opportunities to streamline and develop a tailored package of data collection and evaluation measures that consider i) both the short- and long-term impact on the physical, mental, and overall health and well-being of teenage girls, and ii) the potential economic impact and social return on investment.
• - Conduct a comprehensive independent evaluation of the programme, including, but not limited to, the production of a final report and recommendations for the future.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with the Torfaen Sports Development team and be based between their Pontypool site and WIPAHS, with a base at the Sport and Exercise Sciences Department, Swansea University. They will be responsible for collecting data via a variety of methods (both qualitative and quantitative) that assess the effects of the programme on the physical, mental, and overall health and well-being of teenage girls participating in #ifyougoigo and will ultimately oversee a comprehensive evaluation of the programme.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh and any application submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than an application submitted in English. Please refer to the University’s Welsh Language Policy on Awarding Grants.

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