Passion runs high as female coaching campaign hits North East

WOMEN’S SPORT

A CAMPAIGN to raise the profile of female coaches across the North of England reaches Tyne and Wear this week.

From today, Tyne and Wear Sport is embarking on the Pass On Your Passion campaign to recognise great coaches in the area and encourage more women into coaching.

Currently only 30% of the coaching workforce is women and the percentage of female coaches receiving a qualification each year is just 17%.

The #PassOnYourPassion campaign involves 22 coaches and participants from clubs in Tyne and Wear being highlighted by their members as inspirational and passionate about their work.

They have each been given a baton by Tyne and Wear Sport and asked to pass it on to a female participant from their club.

The participants are then helped and supported to gain the right qualifications and experience to begin their own coaching journey.

Two of the coaches involved in the campaign are weightlifters Charlotte Dinsdale and Lily Petts from North Tyneside Barbells, nominated by head coach Steve Sharp.

Petts said: “I have been a member of North Tyneside Barbells for two years come October.

“Since joining the club my selfconfidence has gone through the roof because my coach has pushed my body beyond its limit.

“Seeing the joy he gets out of it has inspired me to want to be a coach. I want to be able to make other people as happy and as confident as I am now.”