Increasing Sport Participation for Women 55-70
New Grants for Increasing Sport Participation for Women aged 55-70
January 2010
ProMOTION Plus and CAAWS are please to announce that the following organizations have been selected to receive an Increasing Sport Participation for Women 55-70 Incentive Grant ($2000):
Go Rowing & Paddling Association of Canada - 55+ Women’s Only Paddling Pre-season Training & Recruitment (Victoria, BC)
Denman Seniors & Museum Society - Exploring Fitness & Sport for Senior Women (Denman Island, BC)
PacificSport Northern BC - Introduction to Functional Training for Women 55-70 (Prince George, BC)
Congratulations to all!
Congratulations to all!
Background: The Increasing Sport Participation for Women 55-70 Incentive Grant is provided with support from 2010 Legacies through the BC Sport Participation program. These are incentive grants for groups/organizations interested in increasing sport participation among women aged 55-70.
Activities that may be funded include:
• Modification of existing sport programs (communication, structure, leaders, environments) to make them more appealing to women 55-70
• Development of sport programs specifically for women 55-70
• Training of staff to deliver sport for women 55-70 and evidence they have applied this to current programming.
Grant recipients provide participation rates of women 55-70 prior to the project and again after completion to determine their impact on sport participation among women 55-70.
Women 55-70: Sport and Physical Activity Challenges and Opportunities
Background:
In March of 2009 Shelley Callaghan from the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) faciliated sessions in BC hosted by ProMOTION Plus and 2010 Legacies Now.
These sessions introduced the findings, tools and resources produced as part of a three-year national project by CAAWS (2005 to 2008) focused on increasing sport and physical activity opportunities for women 55-70. The useful information and concrete tools presented were intended to assist in the development of sport and physical activity initiatives, policies and strategies for women 55-70.
Why Focus on Sport and Physical Activity for Women 55-70?
Although the importance of increasing physical activity for older adults is well understood, focusing on younger seniors and their unique needs is a relatively new concept that needs attention. The 55-70 age group will be the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population over the next 25 years and by understanding, developing and adapting programs and services now, sport and physical activity providers will be prepared to handle the increased demand in the coming years.
Looking at these issues from a woman’s perspective is a critical first step. Women 55-70 realize that they need to invest in their health now to stay healthy as they age. However reaching these women can be difficult, and current physical activity and sports programming could do more to attract and keep these women involved. The information presented helped shed light on the issues and provide concrete direction to move forward.
Presentation Highlights:
• An overview of the main challenges and solutions that came forward from a series of 38 cross-Canada focus groups with community stakeholders, active and less active women 55-70;
• Concrete Canadian statistical evidence that makes the case for investing time, money and human resources into physical activity and sport programs and services for women 55-70; and
• Hands-on tools for staff to use to get and keep women 55-70 active for life; and
• An opportunity to discuss the sport and physical activity issues and solutions for women 55-70 with colleagues in ‘fireside chat’ format.
About the Presenter:
Shelley Callaghan is the President of Purple Dog Consulting and has been working in the area of physical activity and health promotion/prevention, communications and program management for over 17 years. Shelley has a Master of Arts degree in Leisure Studies from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Social Science degree, Honours in Leisure Studies, Concentration in Psychology from the University of Ottawa. Shelley currently manages the physical activity and sport for women 55-70 project for the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) and is the primary author on newly developed publications resulting from this project.
Background:
In March of 2009 Shelley Callaghan from the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) faciliated sessions in BC hosted by ProMOTION Plus and 2010 Legacies Now.
These sessions introduced the findings, tools and resources produced as part of a three-year national project by CAAWS (2005 to 2008) focused on increasing sport and physical activity opportunities for women 55-70. The useful information and concrete tools presented were intended to assist in the development of sport and physical activity initiatives, policies and strategies for women 55-70.
Why Focus on Sport and Physical Activity for Women 55-70?
Although the importance of increasing physical activity for older adults is well understood, focusing on younger seniors and their unique needs is a relatively new concept that needs attention. The 55-70 age group will be the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population over the next 25 years and by understanding, developing and adapting programs and services now, sport and physical activity providers will be prepared to handle the increased demand in the coming years.
Looking at these issues from a woman’s perspective is a critical first step. Women 55-70 realize that they need to invest in their health now to stay healthy as they age. However reaching these women can be difficult, and current physical activity and sports programming could do more to attract and keep these women involved. The information presented helped shed light on the issues and provide concrete direction to move forward.
Presentation Highlights:
• An overview of the main challenges and solutions that came forward from a series of 38 cross-Canada focus groups with community stakeholders, active and less active women 55-70;
• Concrete Canadian statistical evidence that makes the case for investing time, money and human resources into physical activity and sport programs and services for women 55-70; and
• Hands-on tools for staff to use to get and keep women 55-70 active for life; and
• An opportunity to discuss the sport and physical activity issues and solutions for women 55-70 with colleagues in ‘fireside chat’ format.
About the Presenter:
Shelley Callaghan is the President of Purple Dog Consulting and has been working in the area of physical activity and health promotion/prevention, communications and program management for over 17 years. Shelley has a Master of Arts degree in Leisure Studies from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Social Science degree, Honours in Leisure Studies, Concentration in Psychology from the University of Ottawa. Shelley currently manages the physical activity and sport for women 55-70 project for the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) and is the primary author on newly developed publications resulting from this project.
