Local students talk women’s health during Stadium visit

Our Foundation held a special event at the Stadium on Monday to encourage sports participation amongst local girls.

The occasion was arranged in partnership with the Well HQ – an expert consultancy to transform the system for women in sport, fitness and wellness – following on from International Women’s Day over the weekend.

Sessions focused on overcoming barriers the menstrual cycle can pose to being active, the importance of food, how to think positively about the female body and how to warm up in a way that reduces injury risk.

Students then got to enjoy a stadium tour before a Q&A with Spurs Women legend Jenna Schillaci, Spurs Women sports psychology lead Sarah Findlay and the Well HQ’s Emma Ross, who led sports scientists supporting GB’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the Rio Games in 2016.

Hana, 14, was among 80 Year 9 students from St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls in Enfield who took part: “It helped us have a better understanding on what happens in our bodies when we do sports. I’m feeling inspired and like I have better knowledge about women in sport and what they’ve had to do to get to where we are now.”

Jenna said: “It’s been a really positive afternoon and it’s so important more afternoons and discussions like this happen for young girls, helping them feel comfortable to open up and ask questions.”

Sarah, who played and coached badminton before moving into psychology, added: “This is massively important and it’s great the Club, through the Foundation, can reach so many young people in the community.

“As a young female athlete, I never spoke with coaches about any of these topics. It was stuff you figured out on your own and it absolutely impacted on performance, so even just a little bit of education like this would have gone a long way.”

Maria Geraci, St Anne’s marketing and special projects officer, said: “The support we receive from the Foundation, both in school and through events like this, is invaluable.

“Last week’s theme of our whole school assembly was International Women’s Day and National Women’s History Month, and this has been a great opportunity to further educate and empower the girls for their futures, not only in school, but their personal lives.”

The day was run as part of the Foundation’s delivery of Premier League Inspires, a personal development programme funded by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association through the Premier League Charitable Fund.

Premier League Inspires uses the power of football to inspire young people aged 11-18 to develop the personal skills and positive attitudes needed to succeed in life.

Myri Demetriou, Foundation senior coordinator, said: “We continue to be busy delivering education activities out in local schools, but it’s always inspiring for youngsters when they can visit these world class facilities on their doorstep.

“We were further delighted to join up with another fantastic partner in the Well HQ, helping to empower the next generation and support them getting comfortable with important topics that are rarely discussed.”