Sport Cardiff’s Girls Together Campaign Celebrates National Go Canoe Week

57 females recently signed-up to receive a free canoe taster session as part of the celebrations for National Go Canoe Week. The Sport Cardiff Girls Together campaign worked in partnership with Canoe Wales and the Seren Dwr Canoe club to provide the opportunity to recognise the national campaign aimed at getting more people onto the water. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With only 42% of females in Cardiff hooked on sport or physical activity it is evident that further opportunities need to be available for females to participate. The Girls Together campaign aims to increase this percentage by providing activities to inspire females in Cardiff to access fun and fitness in a friendly and welcoming environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The events took place on Saturday 28th May and Wednesday 1st June. Over the two days 23 children (age 8-16 years) and 34 adults signed up to access the introductions to canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding, held at the Cardiff International White Water Centre (CIWWC) in Cardiff Bay. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were a range of participants across the two days including a number of mum and daughters who were excited about the prospect of trying an activity together. A number of instructors from CIWWC and the Seren Dwr Canoe club assisted with the delivery of the event including some young people who were willing to share their experience as current members of the canoe club. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Elizabeth Begg who attended the event with 6 friends was very thankful for the opportunity to sample the water sports and said “I can say without exception that we thoroughly enjoyed it and will undoubtedly be going back for more. I think it showed us what we could be capable of and took away some of the fear element in a very accessible and fun way” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anna Taylor who attended with her daughter said “The Girls Together event at CIWWC was really well organised, fun and gave myself and my daughter an opportunity to try something new & different together. It was a great few hours spent laughing, getting wet and having some quality time with each other” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Seren Dwr offer a weekly canoe club on Tuesdays and further information regarding the sessions can be obtained by contacting Nigel Midgley nigel.midgley@canoewales.com ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The next free events in the Girls Together calendar include an Introduction to golf on Sunday 24th July and an offer of 6 free Hotpod yoga sessions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​