Call out for people/groups to be part of the ‘Make Space for Girls’ programme of events running through June 2023.

Call out for people/groups to be part of the ‘Make Space for Girls’ programme of events running through June 2023.

The Friends of Rowntree Park are creating a programme of events and activities aimed at older girls (approximately 10-16) to run throughout June 2023 and are looking to hear from individuals/groups/organisations who would like to be part of this.  Maybe basketball, skating, defence classes, yoga, arts and crafts, orienteering, drama, music - if you have an idea, the Friends of Rowntree Park would love to hear from you!

Why:

The Friends of Rowntree Park have been running the ‘Make Space for Us’ project since October 2021.  The focus is on looking at how to get more older girls to use the park.  The work runs alongside the work taking place up and down the country influenced ‘Make Space for Girls’. Research shows that after the age of 8, girls' use of public parks drops. Spending time in green spaces, socialising and exercising is good for both physical and mental health. Therefore looking at the reasons why older girls use parks less than they did, and less than boys do is an important issue. And then looking at ways to encourage older girls to use parks and see them as their space too is key.

Make Space for Girls have argued that public parks have been designed for the ‘default male citizen’, the views of girls aren't considered.  Equipment added for older children often is in the form of skateparks, MUGAs, BMX tracks and Basketball courts - featured that can’t be seen as gender neutral when often dominated by boys. The views of older girls (and boys) are rarely sought when new parks are planned and councils and designers default to what they know and what exists, therefore the aim is to raise awareness of the issues and try and get change. This includes getting councils and designers  to look at things a bit differently.  There are numerous reasons as to why girls use of park’s may drop as they get older, however looking at how to both improve the physical space to make parks more welcoming to girls,  plus having more events/activities aimed at girls should hopefully start to make a difference and get girls back into the public space.

Make Space for Us - The Friends of Rowntree Park’s project

In Autumn 2021, the project started with online surveys and focus group sessions to start to get feedback on Rowntree Park from local girls. The project has gone on to include further surveys involving both boys and girls, drop in sessions, awareness events - including  one with Sarah Knight from York University’s Department of Environmental & Geography for the Festival of Social Science (Nov 2022) -  looking at how girls/women use green and blue spaces.  The project has been shared by Make Space for Girls and also referred to in national research including by Women in Sport (Yorkshire Sport Foundation). In May 2023, project lead, Abigail, is speaking at a national Conference at Leeds University focused on how to improve the safety of women and girls in parks. This is organised by the Criminology Dept, West Yorkshire Authority, and Make Space for Girls.

What we have done and would like to do…

Based on the feedback, there are physical additions the Friends like to make to Rowntree Park in the form of equipment and are looking for funding to help enhance to ’older children’s play area’ in the park with some of the equipment requested by older girls (and boys). Running alongside this aim, the Friends would also like to continue to add to our sessions and events aimed at older girls - including this June programme of events to highlight the need that we need to ‘Make space for Girls’ in public parks.

In 2022, the ‘Wild Ones’ started to run - a nature based youth group for older girls with a focus on activities such as bushcrafts, woodwork, foraging, campfire cooking and other nature based skills. This group proved really popular and continues to run.  Feedback from local girls also stated they liked seeing the sports and dance classes women were involved in running in the park such as pilates and yoga, salsa and baby wearing dance classes. The feedback was that seeing women having fun and exercising in a public space made it seem less intimidating and looked fun. Therefore, getting more events in the park is key to increasing the confidence of girls - events aimed at older girls are even better!

Summary:

If you’d like to run and event or session as part of the June ‘Make Space for Girls’ programme, do get in touch with Abigail at hello@rowntreepark.org.uk for a chat!

You can read more about the ‘Make Space for Us’ project on the Friends of Rowntree Park website:

:https://rowntreepark.org.uk/making-space-for-girls-older.../ https://www.makespaceforgirls.co.uk/