Encouraging women to participate in sport

Bass Rocketeers Netball Club was established in 2014 to promote and provide access to the sport of netball for women and girls in East Lothian. The club aims to offer women and girls a supportive, cooperative and non-threatening environment where they can work together to achieve common goals. It promotes good health and wellbeing and hopes to improve the self-esteem of those involved.

The club was awarded £2,000 from the Baillie Gifford Grassroots Fund to establish a walking netball team for women over the age of 40 years. encouraging women with health and mobility issues to take part. Since launching the team, participant numbers have grown from 10 to 36. The team meet for one training session per week in North Berwick. As well as netball training, each session includes a cup of tea which encourages the members to socialise and reduces isolation. The grant also enabled the team to attend the Netball
Scotland Walking Netball Festival in Edinburgh. This was a really positive experience for the team and has given them a real thirst for competition.

One walking team member said:

"Walking Netball has made a hugely significant improvement to my emotional and physical well-being. I put those in order of importance. The balance of fun, stimulus, supportive competition and physical activity is so important."