Shift: encouraging physical activity and wellbeing

About the Shift project

Shift was launched as a pilot project in March 2016 with funding from Sport Wellington and the Ministry of Social Development. 

Shift takes a holistic approach to:

• improving the wellbeing on young women by increasing awareness of wellbeing through education and remodelling,
• reducing barriers to participation by providing fun, social low-cost physical activity opportunities and financial support,
• empower young women to create change by growing leaders and social entrepreneurs through inspirational programmes and mentoring. 

More information

Check out the Shift website.

The problem

The number of teenage girls being physically active and putting their wellbeing first is declining.

How shift will help

We know that being physically active and taking care of personal wellbeing has numerous positive impacts and improves:

• self-confidence
• stress management
• self-esteem
• strength and coordination 
• social connections
• sense of achievement.

How to get involved

• Share your knowledge of physical activities and wellbeing.
• Lead an activity or wellbeing opportunity.
• To hear about upcoming events or to find out more, contact greer.forde-macnaughton@wcc.govt.nz.

Partners

Shift would not be able to do what we do without the amazing support of our wider community, friends, and of course, our partners.

Massey University

25 students from the Creative Enterprises third year design and business paper (offered by the School of Design at the College of Creative Arts at Massey University) engaged in the question “How can design help encourage young women to be active?”. Solutions ranged from a branded event, to carefully designed leisurewear, an advertising campaign encouraging movement and branded products. Three students, Natalie, Charlotte and Fern, have gone on to be employed on the Shift project over the 2015–16 summer working on multidisciplinary design work for Shift.