More than 3,000 teenage girls have taken up activities at their local leisure centre by a programme designed to support teenage girls to enjoy sport, exercise and physical activity during puberty. Over the course of 10 months this resulted in 55,000 individual leisure centre visits. Of the girls surveyed, 6 in 10 say they are now more motivated to take part in sport and exercise. 
The project, designed to combat a sharp drop-off in sport during teenage years, was created and shaped for girls, by girls, putting their needs and voices front and centre. Big Sister was created out of a shared vision to break down the barriers and address the stigma and gender stereotyping which can prevent girls from leading happy, healthy and active lives, and at a time in adolescence when they could benefit most. Exercise can help to prevent issues like anxiety self-harm during the teenage years and lower the risk of osteoporosis that can plague women in later life.
Source: Women in sport