Chief Executive of Radix UK since 2019, Ben is a political strategist, writer and broadcaster. In 2021, he led the merger between Radix think tank and the Big Tent Ideas Festival and he continues to take overall responsibility for Radix Big Tent’s growing programme to promote system renewal.
Former Chief of Staff and Campaign Director for then Liberal Democrat Leader, Tim Farron MP, Ben was also previously Chief Executive of the Movement for Reform Judaism and prior to that a Partner at City Public Relations firm, Luther Pendragon.
Game-changing sports bra proposal wins Politika Youth Policy Competition
The idea of Rosie Halsall - an 18 year old student from Sheffield in Yorkshire - to provide every secondary schoolgirl with a properly fitted sports bra each year of their school life has been selected as the best ‘policy idea for political change’ in a competition run by youth think-tank Politika, in consultation with the Rest is Politics Podcast.
Rosie’s winning idea in the competition for 16-18 year olds is to supply free sports bras and fittings to secondary school girls, to give them the essential equipment and confidence to engage in sport, enhancing their general fitness and massively improving their health prospects in the longer term.
As Rosie points out: “Girls participate less in sport at school than their male counterparts and are at higher risk of injury. This is because many – due to cost or embarrassment or lack of knowledge - have ill-fitting bras which are not intended for sport. This costly equipment is also vital to prevent injury, yet 80% of women wearing bras of the wrong size.”
Girls’ lack of participation in sport at a young age leads to lower bone density and active lifestyles seen in older women – especially post-menopause – making them more prone to diseases like osteoporosis, decreasing their quality of life and generating significant costs for the NHS.
Rosie says: “Winning for me means hope, hope that my message will be heard and hope that it will cause the change that would’ve meant the world to me growing up as a girl in sport. It feels incredible to be listened to as a young person, especially on a topic so close to my heart and so important in society.”
Rosie’s proposal was selected from hundreds of entries from across Britain by judges Ben Rich (Chief Executive of Politika’s parent think tank, Radix Big Tent) and journalist and broadcaster, Jo Phillips. Competition organisers, Petra Pender and Freddie Coughlin of Politika, comment:
“Young people are often unfairly branded as apathetic about current affairs, but this competition has shown that the opposite is true. The calibre and quantity of entries demonstrates that we must continue to elevate young voices.”
As well as featuring on the Rest is Politics podcast with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, Rosie will now meet with the Radix team to discuss how her proposal might be worked up into a formal policy recommendation to Government, perhaps as a private members bill.
Ben Rich says: “Although there were many excellent ideas put forward, Rosie’s stood out for its originality and practicality. While there is an initial upfront cost, in the context of wider public spending it is not expensive and in the longer term, she makes a compelling case that the health, social and financial benefits would be considerable.
“If our older politicians can show such imagination, I feel we can be much more confident of our country’s future and the sooner we can engage more young people in politics - for example by giving them the right to vote from 16 – the better,” Rich concluded.
Rate this post
Leave a comment
Please login or register to leave a comment on this post.
