Young people highlight girls' physical activity in latest #BeeWell data

By GM Moving | 22 April 2025 | TAGS: Feel Good Your Way, Mental Wellbeing, Children and young people

The #BeeWell Youth Steering Group has identified girls’ engagement in physical activity as one of their three key messages from this year’s data.

Participation for girls remains significantly lower than boys. One in four girls reach one hour a day of physical activity as recommended in the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) guidelines.

The steering group identified issues in the sports offered within PE curriculum, uncomfortable gendered PE kits, and a lack of access to fun and free activities in the community, particularly as young girls get older. 

Other key messages raised by the #BeeWell Youth Steering Group were school belonging and hope and optimism for the future, and access to healthy food. The full report can be found here.

Work underway to boost girls’ engagement in physical activity

#BeeWell and GM Moving are committed to amplifying the amazing work happening throughout communities in Greater Manchester to support girls to be active.

Our Feel Good Your Way campaign uses videos to shine a light on four organisations which are supporting 11 to 16-year-old girls to move in a way that works for them.

Find out more about the campaign and see the videos here.

GM Moving will also continue to work alongside The Reporters Academy with girls from across Greater Manchester to have skills and confidence to share how moving helps them feel through their own content creation.

Hayley Lever, CEO of Greater Manchester (GM) Moving said:

“Movement, physical activity, and sport is fundamental to young people’s mental wellbeing. The #BeeWell findings highlight the urgent need to accelerate our collective efforts to make physical activity more accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable for all young people.

“I’m so proud of #FeelGoodYourWay and how it shines a light on how movement, physical activity, and sport is changing young lives for the better. The right opportunities to move can transform a young person’s life.”

Work to ensure every young person can Live Well

GM Moving will work alongside #BeeWell, local councils, and community partners to address the challenges faced by girls, removing barriers to participation and increasing opportunities for young people to stay active.

The new findings from the latest #BeeWell survey highlight the importance of ensuring every young person has access to everyday support in their wider community.

This supports the broader Live Well commitment which seeks to tackle inequalities and improve wellbeing for all residents across the city-region.

No young person will be left behind as Live Well, Greater Manchester’s innovative vision for a shift in how public services and community organisations collaborate, continues to grow.

What is #BeeWell?

#BeeWell is a partnership between Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the Gregson Family Foundation, The University of Manchester and Anna Freud.

Since launching in 2021, the #BeeWell programme has engaged almost 100,000 young people in Greater Manchester to listen to their needs, understand their wellbeing, and drive action to ensure they receive the support they need.

Tickets are now live for the GM Moving Conference. Join us for a day of learning, leading and moving, with inspiring discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. Get your tickets now.