Following the success of the June 2023 ‘Make Space for Girls’ in Rowntree Park programme of events, including gaining a national award, the Friends of Rowntree have launched their call out for events to be part of the June programme.
The events programme that ran in June last year included 30 sessions through the month including sports and fitness classes, art and craft workshops, music and dance, health and wellbeing, nature crafts and conservation, photography, film and zine making. The project is now looking for people to get involved in running a session as part of the month-long programme in June 2024.
The Make Space for Girls’ in Rowntree Park project focuses on reducing the drop off of park use as girls enter their teenage years. Parks have numerous benefits for physical and mental health and it’s important that girls’, and women, are able to make the most of the opportunities parks offer. The June events programme focuses on creating a ‘welcoming’ park where older girls are empowered to try new things, reclaim the public space and meet like minded people.
The Friends of Rowntree Park won a national award for the ‘Best initiative to engage and increase use of parks by women and girls for their ‘Make Space for Girls’ in Rowntree Park free programme of events (GreenFlag Awards November 2023). The June programme involved over 250 girls from across the city and positive feedback from both parents and the girls.
"We want to create a space where girls can feel safe, confident, and empowered to be themselves," said Abigail, Charity manager of the Friends of Rowntree Park and the creator of this project.
"Our events aim to inspire girls, build supportive networks with other girls and women, and show teenage girls that parks are as much for them as anyone else. As girls enter their teens, it’s when they start to develop independence and therefore all we can do to make the public space more welcoming, the better. It’s important that teenage girls can access parks and all the opportunities they offer.”
Abigail was a presenter at a national conference in May 2023 that saw the release of new national guidance on ‘Safer parks for Women and Girls’, commissioned by Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.
The Friends of Rowntree Park’s ‘Make Space for Girls’ project includes not just the events programme but also developing a space in the park with equipment local teen girls have asked for. They have managed to get enough funding to start phase 1 of the area which includes a communal swing and social seating, and they continue to look for funding for the next stages of the plans.
The Friends’ project was influenced by the organisation ‘Make Space for Girls’ who campaign for parks to be designed with teenage girls in mind. The Friends of Rowntree Park have carried out a range of research to find out what local girls want from their park, and the project aims to redress this imbalance.
Abigail, Charity Manager said, “There are numerous reasons why girls' use of parks falls as they get older including wider societal issues, however looking at what girls want in parks and how we can make parks feel more welcoming, all helps to start to make the change.”
Already a number of facilitators who ran an event in 2023 have expressed interest in being involved again including Bolshee, York Eagles, Eborienteers, PQA, Olivia Brabbs Photography, Lucy Monkman Illustration amongst others, and the Friends’ look forward to a varied programme offering a vast range of experiences for teen girls, and some also for women.
The programme is seeking some sponsors at all levels, and if the project aim aligns with your values then get in touch with Abigail at hello@rowntreepark.
If you are interested in running an event as part of the programme, then more information can be found on the website:
https://rowntreepark.org.uk/make-space-for-girls-older-girls-and-rowntree-park/
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