A SUCCESSFUL pilot campaign in Malvern during 2016 has led to a Worcestershire focus this year.

Worcs Girls Can returns on a countywide basis after last year’s scheme offered 61 different activities across a range of schools and sports clubs.

It engaged around 500 young women in Malvern and now the project will be expanded.

Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire lead the upcoming campaign from February 13 until 17 across the latter county with a lead school in each district.

The Chase will return to champion the scheme in the Malvern district.

Tudor Grange Academy heads Worcester City, King Charles I Wyre Forest, St Augustines Redditch, South Bromsgrove Bromsgrove and Prince Henry’s, Evesham, Wychavon.

According to Sport England, only 31.6 per cent of women play sport at least once a week compared to 41.7 per cent of men.

Nationally, 13 million women and girls said they wanted to play more sport with nearly half currently inactive.

There are also growing concerns over mental health problems experienced by teenage girls as indicated by a Department for Education study published over the summer.

Stephen Brewster, chief executive officer of Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: “Physical activity participation among women and girls is a priority for us.

“The upcoming Worcs Girls Can campaign will allow us to engage with our local schools, clubs and organisations to help break down the barriers to sport and physical activity for young women.

“It will also help highlight the positive effects that taking part in physical activity can have both physically and mentally.

“The campaign is a great opportunity to utilise our partnerships in an area of growing concern.

“The project was initially run across Malvern Hills district last year and was a resounding success so we are delighted to be relaunching the campaign on a countywide basis with the hope of establishing and developing a much wider impact.”

Worcs Girls Can is open to any county school to participate with the help of the nominated lead schools and sports partnership who are also looking for clubs and other organisations to get involved.

For more details, email Bronwyn Clifford at b.clifford@worc.ac.uk.