A group of female strength and conditioning coaches runnings girls-only weightlifting workshops for girls in years 7 to 11 have been selected as a finalist for a national award by the Department for Education.
They’re Lincoln ‘s Strong Girl Squad, and during the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays, they run a Holiday Activities and Food Club on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council.
The squad has now been selected as a regional champion for the East Midlands in the inaugural HAF 2023 Awards, organised by the DfE. The club now goes forward to the final judging stage, with the winners due to be announced in a ceremony at the House of Commons on Thursday 18th May.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell, executive member for children’s services, said: “The HAF programme is making a real difference to the lives of thousands of children and young people across the county. Many of our providers really do go above and beyond to give the children and young people an experience to remember, while also explaining the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Strong Girl Squad have provided amazing support to the girls taking part in their club, and I’m delighted that they’ve been recognised for their efforts.”
Kristen Ingraham-Morgan from Strong Girl Squad said: “Everyone at the Strong Girl Squad is beyond excited to be recognised for this award. We have been so fortunate to work with the incredible HAF team at Lincolnshire County Council, who have supported us since the very beginning, and it has allowed us to create a very special experience for the girls in our club.”
Fellow Squad member Claire Kirk added: “We are also looking forward to meeting other regional champions and sharing best practice for even better clubs in the future.”
The HAF programme is a government-funded initiative that provides free holiday clubs in Lincolnshire over the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays. It is designed to ensure a high-quality experience for children and young people providing healthy and nutritious meals and physical activity. Children and young people who attend HAF clubs develop a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health-related issues, make new friends and have the opportunity to take part in fun and engaging activities.
