Encouraging physical activity, sport and PE
Graeme recently visited the Angus Council’s Active Schools Team to highlight National School Sports Week.
National School Sport Week was created by the children’s charity, the Youth Sport Trust. It began in 2008 and has run every year since. In 2020, the event became National School Sport Week at Home – encouraging children and their families to take part and be active while under lockdown restrictions.
The week-long celebration championed the return of youth sport and its power to bring people back together. This is done through sports days being held up and down the UK. In 2021, the theme was ‘Together Again’, and in 2023, the theme will be ‘Belonging – a place in sport for every child’. The Youth Sport Trust are urging schools and families to get involved by holding sporting events throughout the week that showcase how inclusive sport can be.
I was very pleased to meet the Active Schools Team at Arbroath Sports Centre to learn more about their new initiative to promote sports in Angus schools.
GRAEME
It was interesting to hear how the framework will be used as the basis for planning all future school sport in Angus, with the aim of increasing participation, removing barriers for this who currently don’t or can’t take part, and ensuring more pupils have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Angus Council works in partnership with Sportscotland to invest in and support the Active Schools Network. In Angus we have a team of 14 staff dedicated to developing and supporting the delivery of quality sporting opportunities for children and young people. The Active Schools Team aims to provide more and higher quality opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity before school, during lunchtime & after school and develop effective pathways between schools and community sports clubs.
The main goal of National School Sports Week is to highlight how important school sport is for children’s mental and physical health. By organising school events such as sports days or tournaments, we are showing children all the great benefits to taking part in sport. Whether this is getting to play alongside or with their peers, developing their gross motor skills, or increasing their confidence – National School Sport Week is beneficial for lots of children.
Graeme visited a primary school’s event in Arbroath where he spoke with Andy Garnett, Active Schools Lead Coordinator about the importance of encouraging school pupils to be active. Graeme also spoke with representatives from Skilz Academy and Arbroath FC Community Trust, who work across the Burgh to use the power of football to improve lives.
National School Sports Week has provided a great opportunity for us to showcase how here in Angus we are using the power of sport and physical activity, to improve children and young people’s access to opportunities and make a positive impact on their lives. The event today is also a fantastic example of partnership working and collaboration between ourselves, the schools and local community trusts and clubs like Skilz and Arbroath FC. Together we can do so much more in working towards these shared outcomes.
ANDY GARNETT, ACTIVE SCHOOLS LEAD COORDINATOR AT ANGUS COUNCIL
