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Stepping Forward & Coming Out: A blog for LGBTQ+ awareness month
LGBT+ history month has been a moment of reflection to me around the barriers the LGBTQ+ community face to accessing sport.
As a gay woman at times my rugby team were like a family to me it was my passion and part of my identity. My closest friends have one thing in common: they are rugby players. Sport is supposed to be freeing and liberating but for a lot of children, young adults and even adults it can be a shackle.
I remember when I first started Rugby, I was told it was a 'slippery slope to becoming a lesbian.' I was already a lesbian, I was just not out then. It took me 2 years playing the sport to come out to my friends and family and even longer before I could even say I am Proud of my sexuality.
I didn’t have any out and proud role models in the sport and the team were divided at times based on sexuality which made it a lot harder to be me. Homophobia may be a reason why there are so few openly gay, bisexual and lesbian role models within elite sport; in fact, there are just 104 in the whole of England.
My own personal journey to being out and proud has not been linear. I’ve lost friends because I could never truly be myself, and when the truth did come out I left people hurt and upset as to why I couldn’t open up. The damaged caused to those friendships were irreparable. Homophobia is a societal problem that causes an insidious shame on something that a person can’t choose. At times, for some people, internalized homophobia grows like an unwanted weed to the point it affects their mental health. The European Journal of Public Health study suggests that LGBT people face a unique exposure to stress, which is compounded by prejudice, discrimination, sexual orientation concealment, expectations of rejection, and internalised stigma.
Ten years on I’m still hearing, seeing and reading about the same barriers that I experienced in my youth.
Until we change the norms in sport for all communities who are vulnerable to stigma, and move to create acceptance without exception, participation will continue to be limited.
Research suggests that little has changed, girls already avoid sport because of the lesbian stigma and gay boys take up team sports at half the rate of their heterosexual peers. This has a damaging effect on the uptake of sport and highlights the health inequalities that exist within the sport community.
Evidence suggests lower levels of physical activity amongst LGBTQ+ communities in comparison to the general population, 55% of GBT men were not active enough to maintain good health, compared to 33% of men in the general population, and 56% of LGBT women were not active enough to maintain good health, compared to 45% of women in the general population.
For many of the LGBTQ+ community we often at times hide our most authentic selves in the shadows. This could be at work, at home with our friends and also in sport. Professor Brené Brown suggests:
“True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
For the gay community, sadly it is not easy to be out.
The Out on the Fields report suggests that a strong indicator of how accepting sport is to the LGBT community is the number of participants who are openly 'out' about their sexuality/gender identity. This means those of the LGBTQ+ community often feel excluded, or uncomfortable because of worries about homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or a lack of uninclusive sporting culture or facilities. In the study the majority of participants reported being out to ‘no one’ on their sport team with just 20% reporting being out to everyone. Males where 2.1 times more likely to experience homophobic behaviour and 58% of those who had come out were the target of homophobic behaviour (40% of these incidents being unreported).
This shows there is a lot more that needs to be done to make LGBTQ+ participation the norm in sport. As Operations Manager at the National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine in Sheffield, I will use my out and proud status to shape physical activity plans for Sheffield. Embedding the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in all our work is the cornerstone of addressing health inequalities and I will be working hard to create change for the LGBTQ+ community.
Chloe Atkinson
Operations Manager, National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine-Sheffield
@chloe_tweets
How Lockdown Changed Physical Activity
What motivates you to exercise? For me it was never cycling and I know cycling isn’t for everyone, I also know it also isn’t accessible for everyone. What I’d love you to take away from this is to find something that you enjoy and even when you don’t feel like doing it - do it anyway!
For me my motivation has always been team sports. Growing up with two brothers we would often find creative ways to use our driveway, a small patch of grass or making use of an old piece of carpet to create a goalmouth to kick a ball around.
This love of team sports continued through childhood and into my adult life, regularly finding a team to attach myself to.
However all of that changed earlier this year. National lockdowns were imposed in March and team sports and access to the gym were all stopped - a hobby I’d taken up a couple of years.
The challenge presented itself of how was I going to continue to stay active without the usual activities I’d built into my life? The routine of 6 a side on a Monday evening or dragging myself to the gym 3 or 4 times a week.
So I had my allocation of 30 minutes a day to get outside and stay active. What options did I have that involved getting outside?
The obvious option was running, I’ve just never enjoyed it!
I’m slightly envious of those that enjoy running and that it helps give them some much needed head space. For me it provides me with too much thinking time.
But with limited options, I started. I’ve always thrived on competition but this time was different. I wasn’t competing against anyone. I was competing with myself. I downloaded Strava which enabled me to track my speed and distance covered. I prefer to have a good time than do something for a long time when it comes to exercise.
That said it was the start of something, trying to improve myself run by run, day by day. I was starting to see improvements, but I still wasn’t enjoying it. I wanted to be better than I was but the good days were outweighed by the days where I thought I could be better, go further or run faster.
I needed something new and different!
For a long time, I’d had a half decent bike sat on my balcony that I’d inherited from my brother that for years I’d promised I’d get fixed up and make good.
It was in August that across Sheffield temporary active travel infrastructure was put in place and a low traffic neighbourhood installed in Kelham Island, my neck of the woods.
I recognise that it was a controversial topic for many and understand it wasn’t universally popular. However it prompted me to get my bike fixed and make use of the road space.
Now I’m absolutely no bike or cycling expert and last got on a bike when I was 14 and had an evening paper round. I’d heard good things about ‘A Different Gear’ in Heeley and booked myself in for a bike MOT. Within a few days they’d reported back that the bike was in pretty decent order and that they could bring the bike up to working order.
Now not knowing how much things cost I had no idea what to expect but I had convinced myself in my head that whatever the cost it would be a worthwhile investment on a few fronts;
- Save the planet by using my car less in turn saving on petrol and reducing CO2 emissions
- Improve my health (physical and mental)
- Make use of the new infrastructure and new road space in the city!
So that was that, I now had a working bike and a helmet – I was all set!
One statistic had stuck in my mind that I had heard on a number of occasions that around 40% of all car journeys that take place are under 2 miles.
I was conscious that I was one of those people that contributed to this statistic. I had made changes and had started to walk but I’m someone who likes to get where I need to be as quickly as possible, another reason running (plodding) isn’t for me.
Surely a bike wasn’t going to rival the car? But I made a commitment to myself that where reasonably possible I’d get on the bike.
Having lived in Sheffield for the best part of 15 years, I’m well versed that it is “hilly”. I also know there are lots of e-bike advocates who I work alongside in the City. But here I was with my normal bike – how hard could it be?
Well initially it was easy, but that’s because I stuck to routes in and around Kelham, the River Don and out towards the Olympic Legacy Park at Attercliffe on the routes with active travel lanes.
But confidence grew and the new found freedom of getting places quicker, feeling better and seeing places and routes I wouldn’t have been able to take in a car had started to interest me.
One of my regular journeys from Kelham takes me up to Crookes, which for anyone knows, we’re going from the bottom of the City Centre to one of the highest points in the City.
For a novice (and I’m hoping more experienced cyclists), it is a relentless up hill slog. Your legs burn, your heart feels like it's beating out of your chest and you struggle to catch your breath. First time out it took me 25 minutes to do the just under 4km route, up through Ponderosa Park, Commonside and up School Road.
I’d found my competition. The challenge was to complete this journey in under 20 minutes by the end of 2020. I failed, but by only 21 seconds.
I’ve revelled in the hills, I made a commitment to get over the barrier of cold/dark/wet wintery nights and just get it done and I have. The hardest part is getting changed and winning that mental battle, once I’ve set off, I have no other choice than to complete this.
Are there days I can’t be bothered, absolutely yes! Are there days I look for any reason to not do it, nearly all of them! (Rain, Wind, Snow, My bags too heavy etc.)
Its started to grow into more than something I do to just get places as well. I’ve biked out to Lady Cannings and up to Parkwood Springs to head round the mountain Bike Trails at both sites.
In conclusion;
Sheffield is hilly, but it makes it hard for 50% of the time, but it makes it great fun the other 50% of the time when you head downhill!
Car Users aren’t bad! In 7 months I haven’t had a single bad experience on the roads with drivers, I’ve found them much to my surprise, very considerate.
It’s had a massive positive impact on my physical and mental health
The journeys may all be short, but in the 5 months up to New Years Eve I’d done around 69 journeys, 211 miles and saved roughly 5kg of CO2 (if the Love to Ride app is correct)
I’ll continue to cycle, I’ll continue to have the internal battle in my mind of “can I be bothered today” and I’ll continue to swear at the hills, but I’ll take them on!
Tom Hughes
Development Manager - Sheffield
Yorkshire Sport Foundation
@tomhughes_11
Lockdown #3 - Here We Go Again!
Well, 2021 has started with a bang and lockdown #3 is upon us.
We now have a better understanding of what lockdown means and the effect it has on us. Whilst no-one is unaffected by lockdown, we do all experience it in different ways. This idea was captured perfectly in Lockdown #1 in this tweet.
We are not all in the same boat. We are all in the same storm. Some are on super-yachts. Some have just the one oar.
Damian Barr (@Damian_Barr) April 21, 2020
You can read the full poem here https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/we-are-not-all-in-the-same-boat-story-behind-viral-post-and-poem.html
Whatever your own experience, we’ve learned from previous lockdowns that staying away from other people is deeply distressing and goes against all our natural instincts to connect with others. It takes it’s toll on our wellbeing leaving us feeling lonely, lethargic and anxious. For many people this is compounded by the acute stress of financial and health concerns and a deep sense of fatigue and frustration with the ongoing situation. Together, this creates a perfect storm of challenges to our mental health.
However, lockdown #3 is different and that there are some positives. First up, we are seasoned pro’s now, we know what it means to be locked down and we know what we need to do to survive. Whether that’s getting organised with online shopping, sorting out IT for home working or helping relatives to master FaceTime. We’ve been there, done that and got the t-shirt. Secondly, there is light at the end of the tunnel, true we don’t know quite how long the tunnel is yet, but every day I hear of more people I know being vaccinated and it fills me with hope. Finally, the days are getting longer….by roughly 2 minutes and 7 seconds each day. This might not feel like much but by 18 January we’ll have an extra hour of daylight. Brighter days are coming!
One very simple thing that we can do everyday to protect our own mental health in lockdown is to build some movement into our days. In many ways, the odds are stacked against us, gyms are closed, there are no walking groups or running clubs and no team sport, coupled with the fact that it’s dark and cold much of the time. BUT, finding a way to be active everyday will lift your spirits and help manage the stresses and strains of lockdown. For me, activity is not a ‘nice to have’, it’s an essential coping strategy and if I miss a few days, the wheels begin to fall off one way or another. I think this is captured nicely in this picture that my youngest drew of me in Lockdown #1.
So, I will be trying very hard to plan activity into my day, every day. I know that I feel better if I can breathe in a bit of nature, get some daylight and use my daily activity as a way to connect and chat, even if it’s just to the dog.
To help you, find a recipe that works for you. We’ve collated some of the great activity resources that are available, on this page. The resources include printable booklets, activity diaries and online exercise classes. We have split the information into categories to make it easier to navigate.
If you see anything on your social media travels that inspires you, share it with us on the details below.
We’re on Twitter and we’d love to know what works for you. Tell us about your recipe for staying active in lockdown #3 and tag @MoveMoreSheff
Anna Lowe
Programme Manager National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine-Sheffield
@annalowephysio
NHS Tour De Sheffield 2020
On 3rd June my fellow NHS GP Andy Douglas suggested we celebrate the end of Move More Month 2020 #MMM2020 & emulate the #MoveMoreSchoolsCycleTour by visiting all 80 GP Practices on 29th June.
And then he mentioned the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. And our social prescribing hubs… But not to worry, he’d do half and I could do the other half on my e-bike, it would all be fine. 170km between the pair of us, we had all day to do it. Across the whole of Sheffield, all in a day!
Well we did it! This blog is the story of my preparations for how (&why??) I rode 52 miles on a wet & cold day across North Sheffield as a celebration of active travel in the city
Highlights of the Tour
Throughout the pandemic lockdown I’ve been working as usual at my practice https://www.wincobankmedicalcentre.co.uk/
Physical Activity has become an integral part of my life and you can read about my personal journey here http://www.brendaninglefoundation.org.uk/?p=366
As a GP I know stories are important. It’s how we make sense of the world around us, how we relate to others & how we create an identity and develop our own autonomy. It’s how we cope with illness & how we find a way to keep ourselves healthy.
Sculpture on Holme Lane, Hillsborough
I could instantly see from Andy’s idea #NHSTourDeSheffield was a unique opportunity to capture how Health Care Professionals- HCPs – across the city are doing just that right now
Andy’s half the tour is brilliantly captured here- https://twitter.com/andydouglasgp/status/1277962270572556288?s=21
See the thing is, unlike Andy I’ve NEVER ridden 50 miles in a day. E-bike or not it’s a long time in the saddle! Luckily my kids have really taken to their bikes since the roads became quieter. They have been helping with my training
William above A57 heading back towards Sheffield
I’ve gone running after work in nearby Woolley Woods
Spectacular bluebells in Woolley Woods, Wincobank April 2020
And when restrictions allowed, out with friends
Hot weather in May! Crookes run with Claire Lou & Saffron
Cycling with Beck Rick and Margo up the Transpennine trail to Thurgoland
As well as some skipping when time was short
With Rob Pearson of Ingle Runners, we love the Skipping Sikh!
Out on Strines Moor the day before the ride. Claire & Lou were completing their #ThisGirlRuns 200km in June challenge & it seemed rude not to join them!
The big day arrives!
Well actually I realised there was NO WAY I would get a good chance to talk to all the people I wanted on the day itself so… I cheated (a bit, sorry Andy!)
My colleagues Dr Gail Coskery & Dr Anne Noble from Wincobank Medical Centre, keen commuters by bike
Dr Helen Twohig & Dr Liz Callingham of Dykes Hall MC. They use an e-cargo bike for home visiting & to get to the satellite hub at Deer Park Rd Stannington
Fellow E-biker Dr Aarti Bansal, founder of Greener Practice on Midsummers Day
Dr Girish Vaidya Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist with his e-bike / car replacement
All these amazing clinicians told me their stories. They were passionate about active travel & just wanted to do their little bit. Why? For personal health, the climate emergency, for practicality. Despite the contribution each was making, I heard how they never felt it was enough & it seemed others were always doing more.
I pointed out all these efforts actually add up to quite a lot.
THE BIG DAY REALLY Comes!
29th June arrives and so does the rain- after all the amazing sunshine we’d had before!
View from Hagg Hill allotments, 7.30am
Andy has created a route for me
https://www.komoot.com/tour/197417081?ref=itd
Despite an early start I was running late by 9am, in Hillsborough avoiding tram tracks I bumped into Rosemary & Tom heading to the launch of Sheffield Cycling for All e-trike loan
Rosemary and Tom Sheffield Cycling for All
http://sheffieldcycling4all.org
Then it was off up the Upper Don Trail towards Oughtibridge. I shared this section of the ride with Paul on his folding e-bike. Paul is a Trustee of the UDT and has a background as a mental health worker. He has come to cycling later in life, he says to keep up with his wife. He celebrates his 70th birthday soon but certainly looks very well for his years. Must be the biking!
Beeley Wood with Paul from UDT this section of the Upper Don Trail has a smooth track & is a very pleasant ride.
Transpennine trail at Wharncliffe Side
From Oughtibridge I went it alone up the Transpennine trail to Stocksbridge which was a trickier surface, but quite beautiful in the rain.
A bit of a detour, looking back to town from the top of Jawbone Hill- Sheffield where have you gone?
I got back to Hillsborough for a cuppa & snack with the marvellous Karen Sherwood owner of Cupola Art Gallery, who kindly acted as a biking station. A short break and I was off into familiar territory in North Sheffield
The pressure was on now to be on schedule to meet Andy & staff at the Northern General at 2.30pm. I didn’t get to talk to anyone on this segment.
It’s a pity as I recalled all the amazing contributions HCPs in this area have made. Shout out to Lesley Holmes Practice Manager at Southey Green for supporting Concord Park Run, Dr Kate Donaghy at Buchanan Rd Surgery for supporting Manor Fields Parkrun. Not forgetting Page Hall MC who are keen bike users, Pitsmoor Surgery who have a practice e-bike & loads of cycle commuters! I also didn’t get a chance to visit SOAR Community who are involved with a huge number of local initiatives for improving physical activity- next time!
I also got a wave from one of the Ingle Ladies Runners- bad weather never stops them putting trainers on- thanks Emma you gave me a boost when I needed it!
But I did make it to NGH on time to meet Andy and the others- phew!
We had a fantastic reception from STH staff who share an interest in promoting physical activity & are keen to discuss active travel. Again we heard stories of individuals doing what they could. There were frustrations with infrastructure & a desire for high level support to enable more colleagues to benefit from engaging in active travel.
I was very glad of some company heading to our final destination of Western Park via the remaining practices. Dr Honey Smith cycled with me. We talked about the Greener Practice initiative some more & I heard of the good work being done to enable practices to make small changes to reduce environmental impact. Active travel has a large part to play in reducing carbon footprint & pollution too.
With Dr Honey Smith, Greener Practice
My Strava stats for the day
In Weston Park and I am done!
My actual route- It’s a dragon isn’t it? #StravaArt
So that is the end. Well done for making it this far with me! An epic read seems appropriate for 52 miles around North Sheffield in the rain. It’s been a great experience & I am proud of what we achieved on the first #NHSTourDeSheffield.
Thanks Andy for organising the route & the idea- honestly I did enjoy it!
Many thanks to everyone who supported me along the way, before during and after, especially my partner Chris Jones. Also my kids Joseph William & Robert for the practice rides & experimenting with hone made energy bar recipes (no surprises the chocolate ones were best!)
What have I learnt? Personally I have had to be disciplined & incorporate extra exercise into my schedule. I learnt a lot on the day about how to fuel & the importance of hydration, even in the rain! Also next time I will book the next day off work to recover!
Regarding active travel I have visited parts of the city I wouldn’t usually see, Sheffield has so many green spaces & I found several new ones on the ride.
I learnt there is plenty of interest in cycling in Sheffield but there are obstacles to people adopting it. For an e-bike these include cost & safe storage. There are real safety concerns & people need support & safe road spaces to integrate active travel in their lives.
Thanks for reading, if you’d like to know more about active travel in Sheffield you can visit
https://cyclewalkscrmap.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/
My favourite spot on the commute to Wincobank, Ball St Bridge Kelham Island