Sport and Activity for Women and Girls - This Girl Can

Find out about the This Girl Can Islington project, activities for women and girls in leisure centres and elsewhere.

Volunteers wanted

Would you like to volunteer to help with the This Girl Can Islington project? Find out what you can do and the rewards on offer.

This Girl Can Islington

This Girl Can Islington is a female only project that takes its inspiration from the This Girl Can campaign. It aims for women and girls aged 14+ of Islington to feel inspired about taking part in sport and fitness activities by bouncing, jumping, dancing, working out, freaking out, laughing and ultimately having a great time. Follow on Twitter at @TGCIslington.

Sessions are for women and girls aged 14+ and cost £2 unless stated otherwise; no sign up fees. The sessions are below. The Timetable leaflet lists the sessions.

Boxing Session

• Fit Mommas Box Fit

• Sunday, 11am-12.30pm, Sobell Leisure Centre

Core Stability

• Friday 12.30-1.15pm; Islington Tennis Centre

Dance Aerobics

• Dance aerobics combines exercise and choreography with infectious music to keep you motivated every step of the way

• Tuesday, 10-11am, Islington Tennis Centre

Football

• Beginners football for women aged 16+

• Tuesday, 7pm, Whittington Park, Holloway Road, N19 4RS. Cost £3

• More information is on the leaflet Football. For more information about this session and other football for women and girls, contact Islington Football Development Partnership: peter.samways@gll.org; 07966 614 544

Gym

• This is a set women’s only time in a separated gym for women to come and do their own workout

• Wednesday, 2-4pm. Ironmonger Row Baths 

• Thursday, 10-11am. Archway Leisure Centre

Jump

• Better Extreme Trampoline Park

• Wednesday, 5-7pm, Sobell Leisure Centre

• £3, plus one-off payment of £2 for socks

• This information is also on the leaflet This Girl Can Jump

Pilates

• Pilates aims to strengthen the body in an even way, with particular emphasis on core strength to improve general fitness and wellbeing 

• Wednesday, 5-6pm; Sobell Leisure Centre

Step

• Step is a motivational class using a platform and fast music for a high-intensity workout

• Tuesday, 10.30-11.30am; Finsbury Leisure Centre

Tennis for beginners

• Tuesday, 9-10am; Islington Tennis Centre

Total Body Conditioning

• Total Body Conditioning is an intense, exciting class combining cardio and conditioning for a full on, high-energy workout

• Tuesday, 7.30-8.15pm; Highbury Leisure Centre

• Friday, 11.30am-12.30pm; Sobell Leisure Centre

Yoga

• Yoga is an exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental wellbeing

• Monday, 5pm-6pm; Sobell Leisure Centre  

Yoga 55+

• The class is ideal for women new to the activity or with low fitness levels

• Islington Chinese Association

• Friday, 10.30-11.30am

Zumba Gold

• Zumba Gold takes international dance rhythms you know and love from regular classes and brings them to older adults, beginner participants and other special populations that may require modifications. For women aged 55+ or those that may want to try a gentler form of Zumba

• Sunday, 1-2pm; Caxton House Community Centre

Leisure centres

Islington's seven leisure centres offer activities solely for women and girls. Choose a centre below, go to the Timetable tab, choose a day, and look for sessions that have (W) after it

• Archway Leisure Centre, which has a women-only swimming workout and session on Thursdays 7-9.30pm

• Cally Pool and Gym, which has a women-only evening on Fridays 6.30-9.30pm

• Finsbury Leisure Centre

• Highbury Leisure Centre

• Ironmonger Row Baths, which has women-only swimming on Tuesdays 7-9.30pm

• Islington Tennis Centre

• Sobell Leisure Centre

Other activities 

• Access to Sports offers activities to girls and young women. The activities include cheerleading, football, multi-sports, netball, and street dance, and also multi-sports camps and tournaments during half-term  

• Arsenal in the Community offers free football to women only

• Badminton takes place for women and girls at Sobell leisure centre  

• Holloway Neighbourhood Group offers Ladies Gentle Exercise

• Islington Borough Ladies FC has a wide range of footballing opportunities

• Islington Social Women's Football offers football to women

• Lift healthy living hub for people aged 13 to 25 has a range of activities, including female-only gym sessions

• London Metropolitan University Students Union offer free female-only sports sessions

• Mixed Martial Arts for Women

  Mixed Martial Arts for Reform and Progression has started a new class for women. This is on Tuesdays, 1-2pm, and is taken by a female coach. It takes place at Ringcross Community Centre, 60 Lough Road, N7 8RH. More information is on the leaflet Mixed Martial Arts. 

• Netball

• Running for young girls. A free, eight-week self-development and running club for girls aged 7-10, Saturdays, 11-12.30pm, at Hornsey Lane Estate Community Centre. More information is on the leaflet Mini Mermaid Running Club.

• Tag Rugby Try Tag Rugby offers mixed leagues open to age 14+ that are popular with women aged 20 to 40. Islington leagues are in Paradise Park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, April to November. Taster sessions take place throughout the year. Visit Try Tag Rugby; email info@trytagrugby.com; or ring 020 3137 2722.