Referral Program

What is US Girls?

 

The US Girls programme is designed to increase and sustain young women’s participation in sport and physical activity within some of the nation’s most disadvantaged communities and originated from StreetGames. We have taken this initiative and working with other organisations tailored the delivery specifically for disadvantaged and vulnerable young women and girls within the district who will benefit the most.

US Girls Programme Aims

 

• To increase and sustain young women’s participation in sport and physical activity.
• To provide vulnerable and disadvantaged young girls and women a safe place to develop confidence, self-esteem and tackle social isolation.
• To provide opportunities to develop skills, qualifications, and experiences within the world of work.

Criteria

 

We understand that every girl is unique and will have own individual challenges. We take a flexible, discretionary approach to the participants who can be referred into the “Us Girls Programme” so professional knowledge, skills and experiences used by the referrer is important to us.

The guidance criteria that we would like to consider when referring into the programme are outlined below.

• Inactive (less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week)
• Low attendance at school
• Chaotic lifestyle / home.
• Facing discrimination / bullying
• Low in self-confidence / self-worth
• At risk of or involved in exploitation of any sort.
• At risk of or involved in anti-social behaviour.
• Socially isolated
• Lack of support around them in difficult and challenging situations.
• Is living with mental health struggles / challenges
• Is a looked after child.
• Is living in a low socioeconomic household
• Referrals must be for participants who live or go to school within Lichfield District.

Some girls may be perceived as being disadvantaged but function well in society and demonstrate self-confidence and good self-esteem. These girls may benefit from our drop-in community sessions rather than a referral.

Basic Structure

 

There are limited spaces available in each target group outlined below.

We are delivering 8 groups across the Burntwood and Lichfield area including 2 community sessions which target the following cohorts:

• Targeted vulnerable girls aged 8 – 11.
• Targeted vulnerable girls 12 – 19.
• Young mums.

Who can refer

 

Participants will be referred by commissioned services/organisations, statutory services and voluntary/community organisations who are working with and can identify vulnerable young women and girls in need diversionary provision.

What happens next

 

You will need to complete the online referral form.

Once we have reached full capacity, there will be a waiting list system and contact made to the referrer when a place becomes available.

Once referred the participants will:

• Receive an invitation to the session, which we may ask you to pass on.
• Where applicable, parents will be asked to complete a participant consent form.
• Be on a one-month trial to attend their first session. We will encourage session engagement through an Incentives programme but ask for support from the referral agency and parents where possible to aid attendance.
• If after the first month there is no engagement, the place will be withdrawn, and the space made available for another referral.

 

Targeted Sessions

 

Wednesdays – Lichfield
Venue	Times	Session	Start Date
Methodist Church	4-5pm	8-11years – Targeted	Feb 7th
Methodist Church	5.15 -6.45pm	12-19years – Targeted	Feb 7th
Lichfield City Football Club	1-2.30pm	Young Mums (25 & under)	March 6th

 

There following are the sessions you can refer participants to. Please specify on the referral form which session you are referring to and the date the intent to start attending sessions. Please have this conversation with the participant and parent/guardian prior to the referral.

 

Thursdays – Burntwood
Venue	Times	Session	Start Date
St Johns	4.30 -5.30pm	8-11years – Targeted	11th January
St Johns	6- 7.30pm	12-19years – Targeted	11th January
Spark Burntwood	1.30-2.45pm	Young Mums (25 & under)	March 7th

 

Once the referral has been received a member of the team will contact you to confirm their place on the sessions and accompany this with an invitation to give to the participant to invite them to join the US Girls session. We would appreciate if you could ensure that they receive this as soon as possible.

Thank you!