An innovative project is helping girls to scale new heights - thanks to a funding boost from Tesco.
High school students have received mental health wellbeing encouragement thanks to a new wall-climbing initiative.
The daring initiative has seen schoolgirls from across north Suffolk benefit from a scheme that aims to improve confidence, resilience and team bonding skills.
With the North Suffolk Sport and Health Partnership, based at East Point Academy in Lowestoft, continuing to support local families they recently ran a project to help build confidence and mental wellbeing in girls aged between 11 and 13.
After feedback from schools locally that there has been a significant reduction in the physical activity levels of year 7 pupils before COVID, teachers said there has been a subsequent decline in confidence and self-esteem in girls locally.
The North Suffolk Sport and Health Partnership has used a climbing wall to combat these issues - after they received a £1,500 grant from Tesco as customers in local stores voted for the charity's project.
Jeffery Hoey, partnership development manager at the partnership who helps deliver the school games priorities locally, said: "The funding from Tesco has allowed girls from all five of our high schools to take part in our wall-climbing project at the Everyone Active Waterlane Centre in Lowestoft.
"Without this funding our project idea would have never got off the ground.
"This project has been very successful as it has allowed the girls to enjoy being part of a group but also work to their own individual needs.
"One step at a time, this helps build confidence with no pressure to succeed as pupils self-motivate themselves in a safe environment."
With eight girls from each school able to access the climbing wall for two sessions, fears have been overcome.
The partnership works with 44 local schools to help their students develop their physical, social and emotional needs through targeted events and projects.
Claire De Silva, head of community at Tesco, said: "We’re delighted that we can help groups such as the North Suffolk Sport and Health Partnership, who really are at the heart of their community."
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