A sports organisation is giving women and girls across the county the opportunity to become ambassadors and inspire others to get active.

Active Essex, set up the This Girl Can Essex programme in early 2017, to show how exercise can be fun and sociable for women.

Applications are now open for the next wave of ambassadors for residents in Epping Forest, Harlow, Uttlesford Tendring, Maldon, Castle Point, Rochford, and Brentwood.

Hayley Chapman, relationship manager at Active Essex, said: “The role of the ambassadors is really important as it brings communities together.

“We understand that time can be a real pressure when trying to fit activity into your everyday life and we support the latest national campaigns #FitGotReal.

“Our ambassadors really help women see fitness as fun and attain the ultimate goal of maintaining a regular level of physical activity.”

This Girl Can Essex has four ways to get including sharing your journey online or promoting the variety of activities and opportunities available.

The programme already has over 170 ambassadors from all over Essex aged between 16 and 62 and has been involved in ten ‘Women Like Us’ festivals.

Running, swimming, pole dancing, hockey and roller derby are some of the many activities on offer for fitness enthusiasts to get involved in.

Ms Chapman added: “At Active Essex, our ambition is to change 1 million lives by getting people in our county active and our This Girl Can Essex ambassadors have already inspired and motivated hundreds of women to achieve their goal.”

Working mum and teacher Heidi Shubrook, 36, from Uttlesford, said: “As a mum and teacher myself I want to encourage them into sport and activity, it is important even when life is 100 miles an hour to find a few hours a week to set aside for you.

“Exercise is so important for your health and wellbeing and I would love to inspire and encourage more women into sport.”

For more information about becoming a This Girl Can Essex Ambassador, please visit https://www.activeessex.org/resource/this-girl-can-ambassadors-2019/