Denise Lewis Backs the Active Women Campaign

Denise Lewis made it to the pinnacle of her sport at the Sydney Olympics when she brought home the gold medal for the heptathlon.

Now she is backing the Active Women campaign which aims to get more women into sport. I caught up with her to talk about this campaign and life after leaving athletics behind.

- You are supporting a new campaign called Active Women which is being backed by National Lottery funding can you tell me a little bit about it?

Yes, I am working with Sport England to encourage women from disadvantaged communities and women caring for children, to play sport. Only 13% of women take part in 30 minutes of sport three times a week and we need to increase this.

Exercise is so important for our general wellbeing and especially for mum’s who struggle to find any time for themselves. It is difficult to think about taking part in sport, especially when you are busy and tired, but it does give you more energy and helps you to cope with a busy life.

For many mothers it is a case of fighting the guilt of any time you are not thinking about the family. With everything that you do with the children, you become the most insignificant thing in the house - and there is a point where you have to redress the balance because it is not good for you mentally

- How is the Active Women scheme going to get more women into sport, how is the whole thing going to work?

The scheme is going to work by funding more opportunities for women to get involved in sport, whether that is paying for childcare, or funding a new group in an area where there are currently no facilities for women.

The programme is open to applicants from sports clubs, voluntary or community organisations, local authorities and national governing bodies which provide participation opportunities in community sport. You can also apply if you want to start your own group and have a great idea that other women want to get involved in.

- Only one in eight women regularly play sport in England, compared with one in five men, why do you think women and girls are so reluctant to get intosport?

There are a number of reasons why women play less sport than men. Some girls have bad memories of playing sport at school and have never been encouraged to get involved.For others, time constraints, lack of affordable childcare, transport, cost, friends to go with and body confidence are all big factors.

- And what would like to see happen to combat this?

This initiative has to touch the women who need it and make it easy for them to get involved. A lot of women won’t know what sport is available to them in their local area and they need to be offered affordable childcare.

- And how big a role do schools have to play in getting girls interested in sport?

They are hugely important as the experiences that girls have at school, will shape their entire attitudes to sport as they get older. It’s also important that girls get to try a wide range of sports at school, so they can find something they enjoy.

When someone tells you that you are good enough, it increases ambition. They might not believe it until someone tells them.

- This campaign comes at a good time as 2009 has been a great year for women's sport in the UK with the women's cricket and football teams doing well, Jessica Enis winning in Berlin and the cycling girls continuing to lead the way how big an influence can these women be?

2009 has been  great year for women's sport and success and visibility is what is needed to encourage girls to take sport more seriously.

- How fair is it to say, as a professional sportswomen yourself, that sport in this country is very much seen from a male perspective? You only see male aspects of  football, cricket, rugby?  It’s getting much better.

When I was young, women didn’t get any column inches in the press at all and with the fantastic sportswomen coming through, we are getting a lot more coverage.

- How disheartening is that as a sportswomen?

I don’t think it’s disheartening. Obviously I would love to see more coverage, but there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved in sport and many of the success stories are women

- What do you personally hope this campaign will achieve?

As a mum, I know how difficult it can be to prioritise yourself and find that personal time to play sport and be active. This campaign will offer women the opportunity to take those first steps towards making a change in their lives.

- You are best known as an Olympic gold winning athlete so how was your Olympic experience when you look back on it now?

Sydney was confirmation for me just what can be achieved when you put your heart and soul into something that you believe in. When I look back at what happened to me before those Games with all the injury problems then to come through it and win the gold medal makes me very proud.

I could not have made it without my coach, physios and doctor who were an essential part of my team.

- And how did you get into sport yourself? And what did sport give you as you were growing up?

I got into sport at school and this is why I invest a lot of my time supporting children and teachers to get the best out of themselves in PE lessons and encouraging where possible more after school provisions for children to do more sport. 

Sport gave me a positive identity within school and a lot of self respect. For many children across the country what they do in their PE lessons is the only form of exercise they get per week.

- You have retired from athletics so are you enjoying life away from the track?

I am enjoying life away from the track even though it took a while for me to feel this way because I did miss it terribly at one point.  I have a great balance now between family life and my work commitments and I still manage to fit in some exercise!

- You are part of the BBC team, you were in Berlin, so how is it looking at athletics from the other side of the fence?

I'm very passionate about athletics so watching it was great especially as the team did so well.

- You were in Berlin so what did you think of team GB and what still needs to be done now that 2012 is less than 1000 days away?

I think that Team GB as a whole is in good shape with less than 1000 days to go before the Olympics. 

The talent has been identified  and supported in every way to be ready for what will be the biggest event in their lives.  Staying relatively injury free and mentally strong is all that needs to be done from here on in.

- Obviously the Olympics is coming to London how exciting as a former athlete is it to compete in your home country?

I can't begin to put into words what it will be like competing in front of a home crowd.  I was in the stadium for Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games and it was electrifying.  I'm sure every athlete competing in London will feel so elevated, they will never forget the feeling.

- How do you hope 2012 will impact on team GB and UK sport in general?

2012 has already impacted sport in the UK.  It has been a great source of inspiration for athletes and many school children who aspire to be successful sportsmen and women. 

I hope when the Games are over we can continue to build on the enthusiasm and encourage girls and young women in particular to chose a life in sport.

- Finally what's next for you?

I am off to India as an Ambassador for the 2012 International Inspirations Programme in conjunction with Unicef & the British Council. 

Part of our promise when we won the bid back in 2005 was to inspire children around the world  and give as them the opportunity to change their lives and communities through sport.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

Denise Lewis made it to the pinnacle of her sport at the Sydney Olympics when she brought home the gold medal for the heptathlon.

Now she is backing the Active Women campaign which aims to get more women into sport. I caught up with her to talk about this campaign and life after leaving athletics behind.

- You are supporting a new campaign called Active Women which is being backed by National Lottery funding can you tell me a little bit about it?

Yes, I am working with Sport England to encourage women from disadvantaged communities and women caring for children, to play sport. Only 13% of women take part in 30 minutes of sport three times a week and we need to increase this.

Exercise is so important for our general wellbeing and especially for mum’s who struggle to find any time for themselves. It is difficult to think about taking part in sport, especially when you are busy and tired, but it does give you more energy and helps you to cope with a busy life.

For many mothers it is a case of fighting the guilt of any time you are not thinking about the family. With everything that you do with the children, you become the most insignificant thing in the house - and there is a point where you have to redress the balance because it is not good for you mentally

- How is the Active Women scheme going to get more women into sport, how is the whole thing going to work?

The scheme is going to work by funding more opportunities for women to get involved in sport, whether that is paying for childcare, or funding a new group in an area where there are currently no facilities for women.

The programme is open to applicants from sports clubs, voluntary or community organisations, local authorities and national governing bodies which provide participation opportunities in community sport. You can also apply if you want to start your own group and have a great idea that other women want to get involved in.

- Only one in eight women regularly play sport in England, compared with one in five men, why do you think women and girls are so reluctant to get intosport?

There are a number of reasons why women play less sport than men. Some girls have bad memories of playing sport at school and have never been encouraged to get involved.For others, time constraints, lack of affordable childcare, transport, cost, friends to go with and body confidence are all big factors.

- And what would like to see happen to combat this?

This initiative has to touch the women who need it and make it easy for them to get involved. A lot of women won’t know what sport is available to them in their local area and they need to be offered affordable childcare.

- And how big a role do schools have to play in getting girls interested in sport?

They are hugely important as the experiences that girls have at school, will shape their entire attitudes to sport as they get older. It’s also important that girls get to try a wide range of sports at school, so they can find something they enjoy.

When someone tells you that you are good enough, it increases ambition. They might not believe it until someone tells them.

- This campaign comes at a good time as 2009 has been a great year for women's sport in the UK with the women's cricket and football teams doing well, Jessica Enis winning in Berlin and the cycling girls continuing to lead the way how big an influence can these women be?

2009 has been  great year for women's sport and success and visibility is what is needed to encourage girls to take sport more seriously.

- How fair is it to say, as a professional sportswomen yourself, that sport in this country is very much seen from a male perspective? You only see male aspects of  football, cricket, rugby?  It’s getting much better.

When I was young, women didn’t get any column inches in the press at all and with the fantastic sportswomen coming through, we are getting a lot more coverage.

- How disheartening is that as a sportswomen?

I don’t think it’s disheartening. Obviously I would love to see more coverage, but there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved in sport and many of the success stories are women

- What do you personally hope this campaign will achieve?

As a mum, I know how difficult it can be to prioritise yourself and find that personal time to play sport and be active. This campaign will offer women the opportunity to take those first steps towards making a change in their lives.

More on Page 2