This International Women's Day, our Vice President (Activities) Beth Baxtrem shares why sport is such an important part of her life.
“Sport has the power to change lives. The ability to drive gender equality by teaching women and girls’ teamwork, self-reliance, resilience, and confidence. Women in sport defy gender stereotypes and social norms, make inspiring role models, and show men and women as equals.”
Sport changed my life, and I would love for it to change everyone else’s. If it wasn’t for sport, I would not have the job I have today. As the current Vice President (Activities), my job is to ensure that students have access to activities that they're passionate about, meet like minded people and try new things!
Sport and physical activity are also extremely valuable ways to maintain positive mental health, and this is something I have been promoting throughout my time in this role. It provides, not only, a means of exercise but also; meeting a new group of friends who have similar interests can be extremely helpful if you have moved away from home. It provides you with your own community of people who can support you when you need and push you to achieve more, or just need a distraction from deadlines.
It is important that more women get involved in sport as surprisingly, only 25% of all women actively participate. On campus this week, together with Team Derby and Everyone Activie, we are offering sessions specifically supporting 'women in sport week', including Zumba, Tag Rugby, Taekwon-Do, Climbing, Netball and HIIT classes! If you want to get involved, please follow this link to sign up.
We also have lots of sports teams that people can get involved in such as women’s rugby, hockey, football, cheerleading, dance and many more! Let’s make this a year long campaign to increase the numbers of females who participate in sport.
Sport changed my life, let it change yours too!