LJMU joins Burnham-backed campaign for women's health
Liverpool John Moores University has become the first university to pledge its support to the Liverpool City Region's commitment to improve opportunities for women and girls to participate in sport, exercise, physical activity and movement.
The pledge, led by Merseyside Sport Partnership, forms part of a wider city region commitment to tackle the inequalities that continue to limit participation among women and girls. It builds on the historic place-based signing of the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration by the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, championed by Metro Mayors, Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham.
The commitment recognises that increasing participation requires more than simply providing facilities. It reflects a systems approach to change, recognising that participation is shaped by the environments, policies, cultures and opportunities that surround women and girls throughout their lives. Further, it calls for coordinated action across policy, education, healthcare, communities and sport to create environments where women and girls feel safe, supported and able to be active throughout their lives.
Liverpool John Moores University brings internationally-recognised expertise in sport and exercise science, public health, women's health, behaviour change and implementation research to the partnership. Researchers across the University are already leading work to better understand and address barriers to participation, including inequalities experienced across the female life course. For instance, the university, as Lead Academic Partners to the Global Active City programme, has supported cities across the world to develop evidence informed, whole system approaches that create the conditions for people to lead more active lives.
'Vital role to play'
Dr Aileen Jones, Pro Vice Chancellor (External Engagement and Partnerships), said: "We are delighted to become the first university to support this important commitment. Universities have a vital role to play in generating evidence, developing partnerships and helping to translate research into meaningful action that improves health and wellbeing across our communities, and we hope other universities will join us in strengthening this city region commitment.”
Justine Blomeley, Chief Executive of Merseyside Sport Partnership, said:"We are delighted to welcome LJMU to the partnership. Tackling the gender gap requires action across every sector, and universities have an important role to play through research, education and community engagement.
"This is not about women needing to understand the value of physical activity. It is about recognising and reducing the barriers that prevent participation in the first place."
Aligning with regional priorities
Dr Tori Sprung, of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, who is leading the initiative within LJMU, said:“This commitment builds on work already taking place across LJMU in women's health, public health, behaviour change, implementation science and sport and exercise sciences. By joining the partnership, we can better align our research, teaching and civic engagement with regional priorities while helping to generate the evidence needed to support lasting systems change.
"Improving opportunities for women and girls is not simply about increasing participation. It is about creating environments where women and girls feel safe, welcome and supported to be active in ways that work for them at every stage of their lives."
The pledge marks the beginning of a longer-term collaboration between LJMU, Merseyside Sport Partnership and Liverpool City Region partners to generate evidence, evaluate impact, support workforce development and strengthen research, education and community engagement to enable women and girls to be active throughout their lives.
The university is calling on other organisations and groups to sign the local pledge!
