Women’s Sport Week: Get Out Get Active women- Pamela’s story
Women’s Sport Week will this year take place between 19- 25 June. Although the campaign comes before a packed summer of elite sport, the Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme is making waves at grassroots level across the UK. To mark the week, GOGA is celebrating some of the fantastic women working on the programme. Today, we hear from Pamela from Disability Sport Fife, about her aspirations for GOGA.
GOGA, funded by Spirit of 2012, is an exciting new programme that supports disabled and non‑disabled people to take part in fun and inclusive activities together. It aims to make activity more appealing for everyone. Working in 18 different areas across the UK, partners are delivering over 30,000 sessions over three years.
The Women’s Sport Week campaign encourages the public to have fun and celebrate this vintage summer of women’s sport by watching, listening, volunteering and taking part in sporting activities. Those involved hope the campaign generates debate and encourages people to show their support, in order to help more women and girls reach their full potential through sport.
Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the Scottish governing and co-coordinating body of all sports for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability. SDS has the vision of leading the development of sport and physical recreation for disabled people in Scotland and contributing to UK and international initiatives.
Disability Sport Fife is influencing the physical activity behaviours of individuals with impairments and significant others who support them at different stages of their lives. Project initiatives are inclusive in ethos as well as practice, embracing participants and significant others of all ages and abilities across Fife.
Pamela Robson, Administrator for GOGA at Disability Sport Fife
As well as my role for GOGA, I am a teacher of Additional Support Needs at Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy. I am also an athletics coach (Level 2) for Disability Sport Fife.
In my role as an administrator within Disability Sport Fife, I work collaboratively with Richard Brickley. I register new participants, encourage participation, collate and organise information.
I also deliver sessions that are part of our GOGA project. As part of this I support and encourage our peer mentors and volunteer coaches.
I hope that my sessions allow participants to realise that exercise can be great fun. I want to encourage them to give everything a go and realise anything is possible. I love seeing the confidence that grows in our participants and the friendships than can be built through the safe, inclusive environment of our sessions. It's my aim to ensure that all participants that come have the opportunity to reach their potential and leave with a sense of achievement and a desire to do more. In doing this I hope this encourages others to join us.
In my spare time, I enjoy running. I have always kept fit but started running properly after I had my son six years ago. I now run about four times a week including a session with my local running club. So far, I have completed four marathons including London and Paris. My aim is to complete Edinburgh marathon next year in under four hours. I'm not fast but I absolutely love the buzz I get from running!
I also have a very fit and active son. Together we enjoy cycling, running and playing football. I come from an active family and my husband and I feel really strongly about setting a good example for our son by having a fun and healthy lifestyle.
I know it can be difficult for girls to find the confidence and self-esteem to take part in sport. However, I cannot emphasise enough the difference exercise and sport can make to your wellbeing, confidence and positive mental health. Try to find something you enjoy, give it a go and have faith in yourself. Everyone has to start somewhere, so set achievable goals and go for it!
