CHoosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls (CHARMING): cluster randomised feasibility study of a school-based, community-linked programme to increase physical activity levels in 9-11 year old girls

End of project summary

Main messages 

Physical activity is important for young people’s health and wellbeing, but most young people don’t do enough activity. This is a worldwide problem, but young people in Wales are among the least active worldwide. Girls are also shown to be less active than boys from a young age. Since 2015, to help address low activity levels among girls aged 9-10 years in Wales a school based role model physical activity programme has been designed with different groups of stakeholders. This programme is known as the ‘CHARMING programme’. CHARMING is delivered on primary school premises, with different activity sessions led by community role models each week. Peer role models (pupils from linked secondary schools) also participate in sessions alongside the primary school-aged girls. Our research method involved six primary schools in South Wales. Four schools received the six-week programme and two did not. Across all six schools, Year 5 girls took part in a survey and activity monitoring (using a small monitoring device) following permission from the child and their parent. Interviews and discussion groups were carried out with individuals involved with or participating in the programme. This study aimed to understand if schools could run the CHARMING programme and, to see whether our research method for testing if the programme works, is cost-effective, and was achievable. These aims sought to decide whether, and how, to test the CHARMING programme in a future research trial.  

• Increasing the opportunities for young girls to be active with use of role modelling and links to community activities is an important step in tackling the high levels of physical inactivity in Wales.  
• Results showed that it is possible to deliver an after-school community linked role model physical activity programme to girls aged 9-10 years and the programme was agreeable to all those involved.  
• Even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, findings showed that schools are keen to be involved in an after-school physical activity programme, with requests for the programme to run over a longer period.  
• The CHARMING programme offered an opportunity to build relationships between schools and with the community, support pupil transition from primary to secondary school and minimal costs were required.  

Findings suggest further work should be carried out to see if the programme is successful in improving girls’ physical activity levels.