Campaign launched to support girls’ mental health

A new campaign, co-designed by members of Bolton Youth Council, aimed at supporting girls with their mental health through physical activity has been launched.

The Feel good your way campaign shows 11- to 16-year-old girls how moving in whatever way works for them can support significant improvements in their mental wellbeing.

Feel good your way hopes to show young people movement as achievable, social, and a valuable tool for their mental health with girls (cis and trans) and feminine presenting non-binary young people feeling represented and supported.

Charity Greater Manchester Moving worked with #BeeWell and Bolton Youth Council as well as creative agency We Are Futures and Proper Active to co-create the campaign which was filmed in Stockport by Feral Films.

In Greater Manchester, Sport England’s Active Lives data shows two in three young people are not engaging in the recommended amount of physical activity to benefit their health (60 minutes a day).

Recent data from BeeWell found cisgender (cis) males reported higher life satisfaction (7.11) than cis females (6.13) while Women in Sport insight shows only 58% of girls feel confident being active, compared to 74% of boys.

The campaign can sit alongside an organisation’s existing or new physical activity work with Salford Community Leisure, The Proud Trust and the GM Youth Alliance all planning to utilise it with their young people.

Lauren Whaley, Greater Manchester Moving’s Active Young People Lead, said:

“Greater Manchester Moving committed to a youth-led campaign off the back of the BeeWell data back in 2022 so I’m delighted to see the hard work of the team out with partners and the wider sector.

“It’s been a real team effort with GM Moving colleagues, some dedicated and passionate members of the Bolton Youth Council and the wider advisory team to create this fantastic campaign.

“Physical activity is a great tool for girls to manage and improve their mental health and I hope Feel good your way gives them the inspiration and confidence to move more in a way that works for them.”

Prof Neil Humphrey, Professor of Psychology of Education, BeeWell, said:

“It is fantastic to see the launch of the Feel Good Your Way campaign, which epitomises the #BeeWell approach perfectly.

“By listening to young people, we have been able to generate important insights into their physical activity. Our coalition partners at GM Moving have acted on the data, creating a brilliant campaign that takes account of these insights, including notable gender differences.

“True to the #BeeWell spirit, Feel Good Your Way has been co-created with young people, ensuring that it reflects their needs and preferences”