Making Impact Through Movement: A Conversation with Sophie
Recently, we sat down with Sophie, our Social Impact Lead, to discuss how fitness can transform lives, build confidence, and create lasting change in our community.
The Power of Inclusive Movement
When asked about her most rewarding moment as a social impact coach, Sophie shared a story that perfectly encapsulates our mission. "I worked with a young female who reported to have never found enjoyment in sport," she recalls. "This young person went from being disengaged in sport to succeeding on a skateboard and now doing regular physical activity classes at The Project PT. I saw myself in this young person, and it was a pleasure to help her find a love for moving her body!"
Building Trust Through Sport
The impact extends beyond individual success stories. Through our LiFT Youth program, Sophie has witnessed remarkable transformations. She shared a particularly moving story about a young person struggling to engage with adults. "We worked hard with them to build trust and communication, using boxing and weight lifting as the vehicles to do so," Sophie explains. "Six months later, they presented as a completely different person. They stood tall, made jokes with our coaches, and initiated conversations with adults. Their sports participation allowed them to develop these skills in a way that was not always open to them."
Understanding Trauma-Informed Coaching
When working with vulnerable young people, Sophie emphasises the importance of a trauma-informed approach. "It's multifaceted; what works for one young person may not work for another,” she notes. The key aspects are language, communication styles, and knowledge of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). Understanding the young person’s story is key to knowing how to best support them.
Measuring Impact and Growth
The numbers speak volumes about The Project PT's commitment to social impact. In 2023, we achieved 3,487 social impact hours, but for Sophie, these numbers represent more than just statistics. "It's clear that we need to listen to the voices of young people," she emphasises. "All of these impact hours resulted from thinking outside the box. Through the support of our funders, we were able to support various populations to succeed by giving them an alternative vehicle to success."
Creating Connections Through Movement
When building strong connections with young people, Sophie has found that skateboarding often creates the strongest bonds. "Young people tend to share fears and therefore work on overcoming such fears together," she explains. "Young people can encourage, empower, and cheer others on while soaking up all the love from their peers, too. Not only are we teaching young people to support others, but we are also encouraging them to support themselves – a skill that can help to take them to wherever they want to go."
Looking Forward
These insights from Sophie highlight the power of movement when combined with compassion, understanding, and proper support. At The Project PT, we are committed to continuing this vital work, creating spaces where everyone can discover their strength, build confidence, and find their community through movement.
Through programs like Strong Stance, LiFT Youth, and various community initiatives, we build stronger bodies and stronger communities, one movement at a time.
