Serving Up New Opportunities for Women and Girls This Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week
Women and girls across Angus are being encouraged to pick up a paddle and give one of the country’s fastest-growing sports a try this Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, thanks to a series of free beginners’ pickleball sessions being delivered by ANGUSalive in partnership with Pickleball Scotland.
The women-and-girls-only sessions aim to provide a welcoming, supportive environment where participants of all ages and abilities can experience pickleball for the first time, build confidence and discover a fun new way to stay active. All equipment will be provided, and sessions will be led by ANGUSalive’s pickleball ambassadors.
The free sessions will take place at:
- Forfar Community Campus: Saturday 7 November, 12pm to 1pm and 1pm to 2pm
- Saltire Sports Centre: Sunday 8 November, 10am to 11.30am
The initiative forms part of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, which celebrates the positive impact sport and physical activity can have on the lives of women and girls while highlighting the importance of creating inclusive opportunities for participation.
Creating opportunities such as the pickleball taster sessions is just one way ANGUSalive is helping more women and girls become active, connect with others and feel welcome in sport.
ANGUSalive has also seen the continued success of its annual Pass It On netball event, which brings together women and girls from different generations through recreational sport.
Held in Forfar, the second Pass It On event provided a safe and welcoming space for women and girls of all ages to enjoy netball together, with a focus on fun, inclusion and participation rather than competition. Mums, daughters, aunties and families came together to share experiences, build confidence and create lasting memories through intergenerational play.
The event also highlighted the wider benefits of sport in strengthening community connections. Through partnerships with Her Story Scotland, Morrisons, Kirriemuir Netball, Carnoustie Walking Netball Club, junior netball coaches and Netball Scotland, participants were able to access new opportunities to continue their sporting journey. Following the event, five girls transitioned into the junior netball programme, while several adults moved on to local senior clubs.
Grace Carson, Community Sport Hub Coordinator at ANGUSalive, said:
“Pass It On is about much more than netball. It’s about creating a space where women and girls can come together, have fun, build connections and enjoy being active without pressure or expectations. Sometimes the most important first step is simply feeling comfortable enough to give something a go.
“By bringing generations together, we can help break down barriers, build confidence and show that sport can be enjoyed at every stage of life. We want to continue creating opportunities for women and girls in Angus to enjoy sport with their families and communities.”
Through initiatives such as the women’s Pickleball sessions and the Pass It On netball event, ANGUSalive continues to support women and girls across Angus to become more active, improve wellbeing, build confidence and develop lifelong connections through sport.
Book a Pickleball session here or on the ANGUSalive app.