A campaign covering the north of England to raise the profile of female coaches, leaders and volunteers in sport is coming to Cumbria this week.

The Pass On Your Passion movement has targeted 100 women already involved in the world of coaching.

They’re each asked to nominate another female who they think would make a great sporting coach; a baton will symbolise the passing on of their passion for coaching. A giant inflatable baton will also tour the county for a week from Sunday.

Vanessa Strickland, founder of Runmums and run director of the Junior Parkrun in Carlisle, will receive the baton from runners in Northumberland who pass over the baton to Cumbria at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall.

The baton will be passed over at several locations throughout Cumbria during the week, meeting a variety of groups and highlighting the breadth of opportunities available for getting active in Cumbria.

Currently only 30 per cent of the coaching workforce is women and the percentage of women coaches receiving a qualification each year is 17 per cent.

The #PassOnYourPassion campaign is being delivered in the county by Cumbria County Council’s Active Cumbria Team. The campaign involves 13 County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) across the North of England and aims to raise the profile of women coaches, as well as inspiring more female participants into coaching.

Richard Metcalf, coach development officer at Active Cumbria, said: “Pass On Your Passion is the opportunity to thank our amazing female coaches, leaders and volunteers for passing on their passion of sport and physical activity.

“They inspire and motivate people of all ages and all abilities to get active and also take their first steps on their coaching journey.”

Active Cumbria would like people to get behind this campaign on social media using the hashtag #PassOnYourPassion.

Recipients of the baton are asked to register their baton on www.activecumbria.org/passonyourpassion where they will be entered into a prize draw to receive New Balance clothing.