Future Fitness (November)

Sport and fitness for today’s youth November 2008 £2.75

Football is keeping kids off streets

By Lyndsey Smith FOOTBALL is playing its part in keeping youngsters off the streets and out of trouble through a series of skills programmes.

The government backed Unity Project, a national youth leadership scheme, brings together youngsters familiar with gang rivalries and pitches them against rivals on the pitch.

Morris Samuels leads the project in Nottingham and using the national Sports Leaders Award (SLA) programmes, youngsters can also develop key life skills such as organisation, communication and self-confidence.

Morris wants his youngsters to do even more than put down the guns and reject the gangs. He wants them to volunteer in the community and run further football and sports programmes for young people.

He said: “We take something the youngsters love and use it to motivate them to attend educational sessions. Many of these boys will come good, they just need to be shown the light. In their eyes the football is the light. In my eyes the education and social development is the light.”

The project aims to encourage

young people to play sport together, break down geographical and ethnic barriers, provide activities supporting young people to increase their aspirations and educational attainment, tackle anti-social behaviour, reduce crime, and encourage young people to volunteer.

Morris has worked with his team for more than five years and says it’s about changing the way we think and act towards young people.

“Gang culture is very big in Nottingham,” he said. “They divide communities but through the project I will have the biggest gang, and this will be talented young men who have an education and great prospects for a successful life.

“The SLAs are an excellent tool to develop the life skills and future prospects of young people and this project can use those to offer a real qualification that can lead to bigger and better things. Things are much tougher for young people these days as there are so many negatives like violence, drugs and crime. Unity is about giving out positives, young people united against guns and gang crime, and sports leaders are helping us achieve this.”

Cookbook kick off

Former Premiership footballer, Neil Redfearn, believes every young player deserves a second chance. He got his at the age of 32, captaining Barnsley football club in their historic Premiership season, finishing as the division’s highest scoring midfielder. Now he is turning his attention to helping kids who may have been shown the door by professional clubs and academies through his new football development agency, Pro FD. He hopes to help them revive their dreams of a career in football whilst also preparing them for life in Civvy Street should they not make the grade.

Full story, Page 3

UEFA, the European Commission and the World Heart Federation have joined forces to help launch a cookbook aimed at helping young kids eat healthily.

Some of the world’s most famous footballers including Steven Gerrard, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry have contributed to the Eat for Goals! children's cookbook which gives a detailed list of ingredients and step-bystep instructions, making it easy for children to make delicious, healthy meals.

The book showcases the footballers’ favourite healthy dishes and aims to promote the message that a healthy lifestyle is also based on healthy food.

Liverpool and England star Gerrard said: “The Eat For Goals! healthy cookbook shows young people and lovers of football how to cook and eat like champions.”

■ Full feature next issue.

news 3

Schools failing their pupils claims Black Exclusive by Louise Cordell SCHOOLS are failing their pupils by preventing them from taking part in competitive sport, according to Olympian Roger Black.

Britain’s best ever 400m runner has criticised schools for removing the competitive element from sports, claiming that it is failing to prepare children for the real world.

He said: “Sport means very little if there is no competition and eliminating it is doing kids a great disservice.

“Schools are failing, because in trying to protect children from losing we are wrapping them in cotton wool and life isn’t like that.”

Roger says schools should redefine what winning or losing is and instead reward participants for the effort they

have put in or their personal improvements.

He has already worked with a school in London creating a league table and a points scoring system which allows every pupil to earn points for their team regardless of how successful they were – as long as they take part.

He added: “It is easy for me to say these things, because I loved sport and was never the kid picked last in PE. “I know how hard it must be, but that is not an excuse and it is the failure of parents and teachers for not encouraging the kids to take part regardless of their ability.

“If kids don’t get the experience of losing then they will never have the incentive to improve.”

Roger also pointed out that the current preoccupation with league tables and exam results means that the time left for sport is decreasing, when it should be doing the opposite.

He added: “It depends on what you see as an education - putting young people on the path to health and fitness could do more for them than any amount of exams.

“I don’t expect my children’s school to take responsibility for their fitness, I think that is my job as a parent.

“But I do expect them to recognise the importance of sport and provide pupils with the time and opportunities they need to pursue it.

“It has to be a priority but there is still a long way to go.”

First for Grimsby golfing student Holly Page 9

Frank helps boxing academy to pack a punch Page 11

Agency aims to help kids achieve professional goals

By Lyndsey Smith A NEW football development agency is to be set up aimed at giving youngsters the chance to become professional footballers.

Pro Football Development, run in conjunction with Salford College, will focus on helping youngsters under 19 who have been released from academies or schools of excellence at professional or semi professional clubs, or who have

just left school.

Players will receive professional coaching, links with clubs, and the chance to play against pro/semipro teams, plus the opportunity to gain football coaching and academic qualifications whilst receiving individual player development and one to one assessments.

The course will be run by director of football, Neil Redfearn, an experienced A licensed coach, who has

spent 25 years in the professional game, racking up over 1,000 appearances.

He said: “It is very easy to become disillusioned if you don’t quite make it at the first attempt and it can be difficult picking yourself back up. We aim to offer that second chance with the added benefit of the college link which enables us to incorporate the academic side.

“Football is the key to the door

but by offering academic studies as well youngsters gain qualifications as they go along, offering them a third chance if things shouldn’t quite work out.”

A variety of courses are available to choose from that will run alongside the football development with expert advice and guidance from experienced tutors, and there will be the opportunity to gain work and coaching experience.

Researchers identify lack of formal HRE guidance A STUDY by the top sporting educational facility in the country has revealed that a number of PE teachers do not appear to be effectively promoting health and physical activity in secondary schools.

Researchers in Loughborough university’s school of sport and exercise sciences (SSES) have discovered that despite being a compulsory part of the curriculum, health related exercise (HRE) is often marginalised or poorly delivered in many schools

Contacts Editor: Andrew Harrod - ah@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734639 Reporters: Lyndsey Smith- ls@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734472 Christina Eccles - ce@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734463 Mary Ferguson - mf@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734712 Louise Cordell - lcordell@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734694 Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Circulation enquiries to: Kelly Tarff kt@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734695

across England.

HRE was introduced as a statutory component of the National Curriculum in 1992 and is designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle among young people through a variety of sports and physical activities.

However, the study identified a lack of formal guidance on the delivery of HRE and confusion as to what it actually constitutes. Head researcher, Laura Ward, said: “The limited experiences that many teachers had of

www.futurefitness.uk.net Sales and Product Manager: James Dickson - jd@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734672 Sales Executives: Sarah Young sy@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734709 Nichola Severn sales@futurefitness.uk.net Tel: 01226 734201 Studio Manager: Stewart Holt - sth@whpl.net Deputy group editor: Judith Halkerston

health related exercise in their initial teacher training may be a key contributor to the narrow views and limited understanding that many had.

“Many PE teachers come from competitive sports backgrounds and lack of further training in health related areas means teachers aren’t really aware of the full range of activities that can achieve the aims of HRE. For a number of them health and lifelong physical activity were areas which were absent from their CPD

profiles and as such, they seem to be relying on their own personal philosophies to guide their practices.

“Even the £18m National PE and School Sport CPD programme which contains modules for teachers on health-based physical education, appears to have limited impact. Of the teachers we surveyed, only seven per cent had accessed this and less than half knew about it, which points to a lack of awareness of all training opportunities.”

4 news

Bid to inspire children through 2012 Olympics

By Lyndsey Smith

Sebastian Coe

ABOUT 5,000 schools and colleges across the UK celebrated the handing over of the Paralympics, and marked the start of a London 2012 education programme.

Some 3,000 institutions are registered directly with the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), while an estimated 2,000 were involved in events run by local authorities, sports clubs, leisure centres and cultural groups.

Sebastian Coe, chair of LOCOG said: “Our vision is to inspire children and young people through the London 2012 Games.

“Our athletes at the Paralympic and Olympic Games have certainly done this and their values are an integral part of our work with young people through schools and colleges.

“By motivating young people and capturing their imagination we can help them to fulfill their potential, and create a legacy that will continue long after the games have ended.”

The festivities gave children and young people their first taste of the creativity and inspiration that will be found throughout the domestic education programme called ‘Get Set’ which launched in September.

The interactive website supports children and young people in learning about the games and

there will be eight key themes in the project – internationalism, communication, collaboration and citizenship, practical learning, PE and sport, enterprise, sustainability and regeneration, culture and creativity, and healthy, active lifestyles.

ParalympicsGB chief executive, Phil Lane said: “It is fantastic to see the London 2012 organising committee committed to inspiring a younger generation through the ideals and achievements of Britain’s Paralympians and the spirit of the Paralympic movement as a whole.

“If we are to remain a leading nation in the world of Paralympic sport we must ensure that education really challenges young people, and this initiative, working together with ParalympicsGB, will help achieve that ambition.”

Children and young people will work with their practitioners to develop ideas, projects, goals and targets which are relevant to their place of learning and build on existing national and local objectives.

Jim Knight, minister for schools added: “The Olympic and Paralympic spirit can be hugely motivating, symbolising people using their abilities to achieve at the highest level.

“My department is delighted to be working with LOCOG to realise the educational potential of the 2012 Games.”

Volunteers meet footballing legend on Coronation Street cobbles YOUNG volunteers were presented with the opportunity of a lifetime when they met a famous footballing legend.

The kids, who are part of the nationwide Co-operative StreetGames Young Volunteers scheme, enjoyed a game of football with former Manchester United and England captain, Bryan Robson, OBE, on the famous Coronation Street cobbles.

The volunteers, currently being trained in a variety of sport and community leadership skills, were invited to visit the set and play a game of football with the soap’s younger cast members.

Peter Marks, chief executive of the co-operative, feels the day will have had a big impact on the young volunteers.

He said: “They had the time of their lives and having Bryan Robson turn up to meet them has really inspired them and I have no doubt it will have a lasting effect.”

Jane Ashworth, chief executive of StreetGames, added: “The day was a fantastic experience and gave the youngsters a real buzz to take back to their communities.

“It also showed them just how important the work they do is to the communities they support, and how

Funding available FOLLOWING on from the success of Summer of Sport 2008, which increased the number of Londoners participating in sporting activities, Winter of Sport funding is now available.

The funding aims to help clubs and community groups provide free sport, physical activity and coaching opportunities, in the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

The funding application process opened last month and grants of up to £1,000 are available for community groups and sports clubs, with money available for all sports and physical activities, ranging from sports coaching sessions to sports festivals and sports club open days.

New qualification

much they are appreciated.

“I would personally like to thank them for all their hard work and for helping to spread the message that sport really benefits young people’s lives.”

StreetGames is the only national charity dedicated to developing sport in disadvantaged communities and making sport accessible to all young people regardless of their income or social circumstances.

Coronation Street’s Alan Halsall (aka Tyrone Dobbs) and Bryan Robson OBE with the Co-operative StreetGames young volunteers, from left, Jemma Macgill, Mark Allen, Mark Latham and, Volunteer Co-ordinator, Andre Costello.

ZIGZAG’S ActivKids is offering a nationally recognised qualification designed to inspire adults working with children.

The company has become an approved training and assessment centre for Central YMCA Qualifications and will deliver the CYQ level two certificate in instructing health related exercise for children.

ActivKids founder James Porter said: “CYQ offers a diverse range of health and fitness qualifications which are based on more than 20 years of industry expertise, so we are delighted to have been accepted as one of their approved training providers.”

The new status also coincides with the launch of ActivKids new training framework, which delivers leadership awards and child behaviour management workshops.

news 5

Charity campaign aims to deliver healthy access

By Louise Cordell YOUNG people with little access to health and fitness facilities are being supported by a new campaign from the charity 4Children.

The Make Space for Health scheme will deliver a programme of teenage health advice and activities through youth centres and after school clubs.

It will also aim to bring together all the organisations responsible for children's health in a local area to make sure all community activities are coordinated.

Anne Longfield, 4Children CE, said: “Fitness isn’t part of many young people’s daily routine and the teen years are vital as bad habits can be set for life, leading to long term problems.

“So we wanted to set up a fun and appealing programme, providing health and lifestyle programmes to encourage teenagers to make positive changes.”

The scheme was launched at the beginning of July and is currently being piloted in three path finder areas, Essex, Leeds and York, before being rolled out nationwide.

It is made up of four modules on healthy eating, encouraging physical activity, addressing mental and emo-

tional health and looking at personal health.

Anne added: “Kids tell us that they want to get healthier and more active and that they want to go to gyms but age restrictions or expense can stop them.

“So we are aiming to help provide lots of access to sports activities and gym equipment, basically all the things you want as an adult, but as a teen you sometimes can’t get access to.”

Specialist training will be offered to the youth workers involved, allowing them to continuing to use the new teaching methods as part of their long term work.

Anne added: “We are aiming to work alongside schools to reach the children.

“However, we have found that kids don’t always feel confident about talking about health issues in school as they can be worried they will be judged or that the information will be ‘held against them’ in some way.

“Also school sport tends to take place in a more traditional and formal setting, whereas we are focusing on fun activities and a more lifestyle based approach.

“This is why we are using youth

workers, as they are different from teachers and parents – more accessible and not as intimidating.

“It is all about getting them access to individuals who can inspire and motivate them.”

Dr Miriam Stoppard, 4Children CE Anne Longfield and a representative from the Young Mayor of Lewisham’s office

6 news

Dance mat teams put best foot forward ...

THE UK’s first national dance mat competition has been held, with teams from across the country competing in the multiplayer tournament.

The event showcased some of Britain’s most talented youngsters, aged 8 to 16 years, who made up teams from schools and leisure centres.

Winners on the day were from Howden Clough Girls School and Batley Leisure Centre, and Kieran Murphy, marketing director of SHOKK, who organised the event, said: “It was fantastic to see all the young people enjoying themselves as the tournament was put together for their benefit rather than to just showcase the product to the industry.

“Considering that girls aged 12 -15 years have been traditionally a difficult group to target, we have really been making an impact with this demographic.

“The aim was to further raise the profile of dance mats as a form of physical activity and to provide youngsters with an opportunity to showcase their talent in a competitive environment.”

University teams net new sponsorship deal

By Lyndsey Smith UNIVERSITY netball teams in the UK are to benefit following a new sponsorship deal between Kukri Sports and British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS).

The three-year relationship will give Kukri sponsorship rights across the BUCS netball programme and offer members and university teams access to an exclusive online deal to purchase official netball team kits at a discounted rate.

Pamela Cookey, England international and university of Bath netball player said: “It’s great that university netball is recognised by Kukri as providing players with a competitive, high quality and enjoyable structure.

“My time at university, and playing in BUCS leagues, has helped me grow into the player that I am today and I believe the support that Kukri will now provide can only strengthen the opportunities for other university players.”

During the 2008/09 season over 85% of BUCS member universities will compete in the Kukri BUCS netball programme.

This encompasses 351 teams, 55 leagues, five conference up competitions, and a championship and trophy final event held at the BUCS Championships in Sheffield next year.

The investment will also support BUCS in improving student access to coaching and umpiring netball qualifications and provide start-up costs

Karen Rothery for a new netball ‘Home Nations’ event which will take place every two years as a showpiece event for the season.

Karen Rothery, chief executive at BUCS said: “Netball is the biggest female team sport in the UK, and Kukri’s support will help us provide additional investment.

“This will help develop new competitions, improve participation even further, and give our members access Queen of the South captain, Jim Thomson (left) oversees the fitness tests of (centre left to right) Gregor Anderson (aged 14), Greg Swan (aged 13) and Craig Neill (aged 12), carried out

by Bannatyne’s Colin Macgillivray (right)

Link-up set to boost Scottish youth teams YOUTH teams in Scotland are to receive a fitness boost following a link up between one of the country’s football clubs and a health club chain.

Bannatyne’s health club in Dumfries, has teamed up with Queen of the South FC to deliver fitness tests to their under 13s, 14s and 15s youth teams. These will include testing the players’ sit up and press up abilities, along with their weight, height and lung capacity being recorded and monitored using peak flow testing.

Colin Macgillivray, general manager

of Dumfries health club said: “Focusing on living a healthy lifestyle should begin at a young age.

“These players, if they want to achieve at the highest level, have to understand what they have to do to improve their wellbeing, especially at this stage in their lives while their bodies are still developing. Queen of the South’s exploits in the league and in Europe has brought a real buzz to the area and we are proud to be working with the club, maybe with some of the stars of the future.”

Bannatyne’s will also offer the play-

ers nutritional advice from its team of fitness professionals and will be monitoring the players throughout the season, helping them in their fitness development.

Andy Irving, Queen of the South FC youth coach added: “The fitness tests at Bannatyne’s are part of our support programme for the players. This gives them more than just football skills. It also helps them focus on their general healthy lifestyles and understand how their wellbeing can influence their performance.”

to high-quality and professional kit at reasonable prices.”

Laura Thomas, director, Kukri GB Ltd added: “We are very excited to partner BUCS and sponsor the netball programme.

“The programme grooms future internationals and gives athletes the opportunity to study and play at a very high standard, and we very much look forward to seeing some high quality netball.”

Funding stream for clubs FUNDING is now available for clubs who are hoping for future developments.

Get Up and Go – Clubs is a limited funding stream available from PROACTIVE West London and it is open to NGBs and clubs.

Aimed at supporting club development projects within West London it will contribute to the target of increasing participation in sport by one per cent.

Funding will be considered for projects meeting more than one of the following criteria, increase the number of clubmark or NGB accredited clubs in West London, increase the number of school club links, increase participation within the club environment, demonstrate that any funding given will contribute to the sustainability of the club/organisation in the longer term and partnership funding contributing to the project.

Organisations can apply for up to £1,000.

news 7

‘Sports for a pound’ across town SPORTS for a pound are being organised across Mendip as part of a 10-week healthy lifestyles project.

Youngsters aged between six and 16 have being invited by the district council to take part in a range of sports as part of its Street Sports scheme which started at the end of September.

The scheme will be led by qualified coaches from the county-wide Somerset Active Sports Programme (SASP), and it is aimed at encouraging sports enthusiasts to use the wide range of sports facilities across the town.

Cllr Ron Forrest, Mendip District Council’s portfolio holder for community, said: “People of all ages should have access to and be encouraged to take part in a variety of sports.

“It’s even more important that young people have projects targeted for them and have facilities available to ensure they lead healthy lifestyles from a young age.

“The council is keen to encourage more people to lead more active lives, and we will continue to coordinate schemes like this across the district so that everyone has an opportunity to take up activities they may not normally have access to.”

The sports sessions will take place weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and those wanting to take part can just turn up as there is no booking required.

Mendip District Council sports officer Alex Stephens promotes the £1 Street Sports scheme

Crime proceeds Handover celebrated to fund girl in Plymouth sport projects

By Lyndsey Smith

By Lyndsey Smith PROCEEDS of crime are to be used to fund a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging more girls to play, coach and volunteer for football.

Justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, has announced that the Scottish government has brokered agreement with the Scottish FA to provide £297,000 over the next three years to support four football related projects.

The latest phase of the CashBack for Communities scheme will be used to increase participation in girls’ football and ensure that all those girls who want to play the sport on a formal and regular basis can do so.

Kenny said: “Girls’ and women's football is the fastest growing sport in the world. Already in Scotland around 27,000 females are playing our national game.

“Football can play a big part in diverting young people from getting involved in crime and antisocial behaviour.

“That is why this government is helping the Scottish FA to inspire and attract large numbers of female youth players, coaches and volunteers to the beautiful game.

“Football is a game for girls as well as boys. In addition to helping the lads, we want to help the ladettes find something better to do with their

lives. We want to show our young people that there is more to life than drink, drugs and offending and CashBack is giving us the way of doing just that.”

The scheme includes linking schools to the 12 women's premier league clubs, a series of roadshows to make girls aware of playing opportunities, and the development of a national programme.

Gordon Smith, Scottish FA chief executive said: "Football is a fantastic tool for educating young people and helping them to develop into better citizens, and we're committed to creating and maintaining structures that will allow as many girls to play organised football as possible.

"We share many aims and objectives with the CashBack for Communities programme, and this funding will help us, not only to nurture the future stars of our women's national team, but to focus on developing heath, wellbeing, attitude and confidence at all levels of participation."

Sheila Begbie, head of girl's and women's football at the Scottish FA added: “We are delighted with this support. It is really important to develop the club structures to ensure that we can provide opportunities for young girls and women at all levels in the clubs.”

PUPILS in Plymouth celebrated the Paralympic handover with a rowing machine relay, bidding to notch up 147,000 metres.

Youngsters from eight schools worked so well that the target was raised to 200,000 metres halfway through the event, and even this was smashed with a final total of 262,000.

Pete Grainger, principal of John Kitto community college said: “We are delighted to have been involved in the handover day.

“We believe that encouraging youngsters of all abilities to get involved in sport is very important as it can be key to promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

Non-disabled and disabled pupils, sports leaders, sports development officers, partnership development managers and representatives from Active Devon, Amateur Rowing Association (ARA), English Federation Disability Sport (EFDS), Sport England, Team South West and Team Devon all took part in the handover.

Jim Clarke, regional director Sport England South West added: “What an inspiration it was to see all the young athletes rowing so well and to reach such a fantastic cumulative total.

“The competitive sport element was certainly alive and kicking in Plymouth and lets hope we see that talent fully developed and encouraged as we head towards 2012.”

New website launched by Youth Sport Trust A NEW website has been launched by the Youth Sport Trust to assist school sports partnerships.

The SSP Enhance online area can be found on the YST’s website in the School Sport Partnership area of

School Sport Xchange.

It is the new look package of education and training support for the SSP infrastructure which will grow to become the one-stop-shop of information relating to all infra-

structure knowledge and skill development, which is provided by the YST. It will be updated with course materials, best practice information and shared experiences from the network.

8 news

Research reveals run and skip link INTERACTIVE fitness equipment offers a comparable work out to running and skipping, according to new research.

A study by researchers at the University of Massachuetts in Boston found that the interactive games – played on ZigZag’s Sportwall, DDR dance mats, Cybex Trazer and other computer-based equipment – elicited a cardiovascular training response commonly associated with activities such as running hard or jumping rope.

Dr. Kyle McInnis, researcher, said: “Kids don’t associate the exercise sessions as being hard work, but rather think of it as play.

“Heart rates were high, but their perceived levels of exertion were modest, resulting in longer exercise times and more calories burned than we typically expect compared to more traditional exercise when performed by kids who are unfit.”

Researchers have received several research grants to study the impact

of interactive technology in promoting physical activity and healthy weight in kids and teens from lowincome neighbourhoods in Boston.

The latest research aimed to document the relative increase in energy expenditure above resting between the various forms of ‘active gaming’ and to quantify the potential impact on energy balance in children aged nine to 12.

The children took part in a tenweek, 20-session ExerGaming programme and initially given three

sessions to become familiar with the games. After three sessions, the energy cost of gaming was measured by indirect calorimetry.

Fergus Ahern, director of ZigZag said: “The research clearly shows that ExerGaming has the potential to increase physical activity and have a favourable influence on energy balance.

“The children enjoyed the activities too, particularly the Sportwall, DDR dance mats and walking.”

Uniform for young sports leaders in Northumberland

By Lyndsey Smith A LEADER’S uniform has been given to youngsters at schools in Northumberland to showcase their enthusiasm and commitment to fitness.

Pupils who completed the young sports leaders training course will now wear t-shirts, Sports Leaders UK lanyards, and whistles.

Andy Brown, physical education and school sport consultant, Northumberland County Council, believes this is a great reward for their commitment.

He said: “The uniforms indicate they were part of an organised and trained team of young leaders, supporting oth-

ers in engaging in positive sport within their school and SSP. “Wearing t-shirts displaying the logos of both Sports Leaders UK , which is the training award relevant to their role, and Northumberland Healthy Schools, who provided funding and support, showed other pupils, staff, and family members the significance of their work.”

Northumberland Healthy Schools, and the SSP’s jointly trained over 150 Key Stage 3 pupils as young sports leaders last year and have rolled out the awards to middle schools this year.

The training allows pupils, between nine and 13, to work with younger children, encouraging fitness and sport.

Angela Parsons, who led training in the Blyth Bedlington Partnership, said: “The schools and students involved have really benefited, and feedback from pupils and staff, supported by the leaders at lunchtimes and at festivals, has been highly complimentary.

“The uniforms have been a bonus as the staff and students love them as they build self esteem and give their role a high and visible profile and Youngsters show off the new uniform create a sense of belonging.”

More young people training at Kay’s club

By Mary Ferguson THE manager of an independent gym in Sheffield has reported a massive increase in the number of young people training at the club.

Kay Blackburn, who has managed The Max Fitness Centre for 11 years, told Future Fitness: “I don’t know where they have all come from.

“We have a few members over 40, then the rest are under 25 – there seems to be nothing inbetween.”

The gym is located close to Sheffield University, and students make up around 30 per cent of the club’s membership.

During the summer months when they go back home, they still keep on paying but the gym falls a lot quieter.

At the same time though, many of those who visit the area just for the summer buy one-off monthly passes for £28, meaning that revenue-wise, the summer months are the most profitable for the club.

Kay said: “The club has expanded a lot since I started here 11 years ago,

both in terms of space and membership.

“And quite a lot of our members have been here since the beginning.

People see us almost as their ’local’, everyone knows each other and a lot of them just pop in for a coffee and chat, even if they aren’t training.”

Above the gym, and owned by the same company, is a children’s nursery. And in the evenings, the area is converted into a studio for group fitness classes – which include boxercise, aerobics and Arabic dance.

Kay said the gym keeps going purely by word of mouth and that other forms of marketing just don’t work for them.

She added: “Even though we are off the main road, people talk and most of our new memberships come from referrals.

“We all have nights out together, and even go on day trips, and that’s why people keep coming back - it’s the friendly atmosphere you just can’t find in the larger gyms.”

Kay Blackburn

Teenagers dance off with awards

First for golf student Holly

By Lyndsey Smith A GOLFING student has been celebrating after being the first lady to play under par at Laceby Manor golf club.

Holly Clyburn, pictured above, of the Grimsby Institute golf academy tallied a gross score of 69, four under par of the course average, whilst competing in The Grimsby Institute golf challenge.

Holly, who plays off +1, has already achieved both national and international success being a member of the England ladies’ performance team and the girls’ home internationals.

Claire Thomson, sports development officer at the institute said: “Holly is developing into one of the

most talented golfers to emerge from this area and all the hard work and effort that she has put into the game is now paying off.

“With the continued support from her family, coaches and the institute, through the golf academy and sponsorship, I'm sure that one day we will all be watching Holly performing as one of the best in the world.”

Holly has recently scooped the British Colleges Sport National team title and has been the county champion for three years running.

She added: “I’m really pleased. I feel that I played well and stuck to my own game and hopefully I’ll be able to put in similar performances the future.”

TEENAGERS from Oldbury sports college danced away with a host of awards from the ZigZag dance-off at this year’s Leisure Industry Week.

Youths from the West Midlands school received all five titles up for grabs, to be named player of the day, best scoring team for each track, and best scoring team across all three tracks.

The winning team scored well into the 90 per cent range on all three titles with Nadine Bullock, 15, winner of the player of the day award, scoring an astonishing 97.5% on the second song.

Sarah Connelly, head of dance at Oldbury said: “The dance mats are an excellent tool to get children to exercise, either in a competitive or non competitive way.

“All the pupils involved in the competition, and using the equipment at LIW, thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”

11-15 year old dancers battled it out to three tracks of increasing difficulty and Fergus Ahern, director of ZigZag added: “The young dancers were very excited and nervous before entering the competition but they had an excellent time and all have said they can’t wait until next year’s challenge!”

10 boxing

Frank’s happy to donate boxing ring to academy FORMER heavyweight champion, Frank Bruno, is happy to give his name to an academy he hopes will go some way to helping youngsters stay on the straight and narrow.

Frank, who donated the boxing ring to the academy, believes only positives can come from the programme.

He said: “Obviously I have given my name to the academy as I believe in what the boys are trying to achieve.

“We have set this up for young people to have the experience of training with former champions, enhancing their boxing skills and goals, and keeping them off the streets.

“In these days when gangs and knife crime appears so prolific this is a positive thing that can help these kids.

“We are encouraging discipline in them which will help keep them on the straight and narrow as well as providing them with an education, and I personally feel this is going to help a number of young people succeed and get on well in life.

“The kids were very warm and respectful towards me and that will stand them in good stead in the sport of boxing, a sport that requires respect, discipline and focus.

“The quicker that boxing is recognised as a discipline, a hard discipline yes, but nonetheless a focused one, the better. People need to begin to see the positives.”

“I am looking forward to helping with the growth of the academy by devoting my time helping develop the young people involved with us and hopefully seeing a positive return from these kids.

“I will help as much as I can along the way to ensure that this happens.”

Following the success of Boxing4Schools, founder Wayne Llewellyn saw the opportunity for progression. This led to the opening of the Frank Bruno Boxing Academy. Lyndsey Smith found out more ...

How Bruno helped academy pack a punch BOXING4Schools has been a pioneer in aiming to get non contact boxing back onto the national curriculum, and the partnership with the Priory school, Bromley has been instrumental, and a great success.

The response from students to noncontact boxing and fitness training has been excellent and now the academy is intended to take the sport to the next level and provide progression not just for Priory students but for local boys and girls who are exceeding in this sport.

It opened in September and allows post 16 students to enrol onto a formal programme of level two or three curriculum studies as well as receiving ten hours of high level personalised boxing training from professionally qualified coaches.

Wayne explained how the 12 elite boxers, currently on the programme, were selected. He said: “The London ABAE gave us a list of names that we could possibly access and a list of potential students were chosen.

“These were given interviews, physical tests and boxing tests which were quite demanding. But the final twelve chosen weren’t just selected on their boxing ability, a lot of it was about their attitude.

“This is all important in boxing. It is a sport that demands discipline and focus but when we gave the kids physical circuits to do they were great and in fact their boxing ability improved within just three weeks.”

The academy is a partnership between Boxing4Schools, the Priory and the ABAE, and Wayne works very closely with the deputy headmaster at the school, Neil Miller.

Neil believes that the project can only be a good thing. He said: “Boxing is a great sport but unfortunately it appears to be tainted by this political-

Frank Bruno at the academy at Priory school, Bromley ly correct attitude that it is a sport for thugs. That’s just not true and hopefully with our work and the success of our boxers at the Olympics we may be able to move away from this unfair stigma.

“The academy will benefit both the students and the pupils that they help along the way, and it could also benefit them in terms of careers prospects in the long term.

“The young people involved will have the opportunity at the end of the two year programme to go to university with the school’s partner university, South Bank, or work in the leisure industry with the schools partner leisure provider, Bromley Mytime.

Also, of course, if they continue to excel, there is the opportunity of London 2012.”

Classroom sessions are also held

within the programme which include teaching students about pre-fight nerves, nutrition, roadwork, and strategies within the ring along with working towards BTECS and NVQs in a variety of areas within sport and leisure.

Nick Ware, headteacher at the Priory, added: “The academy is a great development for the school and is providing great opportunities for the youngsters involved.

“We are packaging their education around their training and by 2012 they could be competing at national level “This is a unique concept. Athletes are expected to compete at the highest level but they need help to do that and the work that Wayne and the guys are doing is fantastic. They are passionate and enthusiastic and that rubs off on everyone else.”

‘Well done for having the courage to be the first’

By Charles Griggs THE first boxing event in a school in over 60 years was held at the Priory school and I found myself as an invited guest in the audience.

Some people thought it was inappropiate for me to attend, that the sport was too violent, too aggressive and was encouraging young people to beat each other senseless.

They were concerned that the borough commander would be endorsing a violent sport but this borough commander has a different view.

As a new recruit to the police it was compulsory to participate in ’milling’.

This consists of two people putting on boxing gloves and free fighting in a ring.

I remember entering the ring, gloves tightly laced, confronting a

baying audience and embarking in gladatorial combat of epic proportions.

Okay, not quite. But it was exhausting, fun and I didn’t really get hurt, and it taught me something. I learned to have confidence in myself, the person I was milling with, and to trust the instructor.

Policing is about preventing crime and helping to make places safer. If we are really going to make a difference in the future we have to work with and develop our young people to help them become responsible adults.

Most of the young people that police come into contact with lack self control and self discipline and have low self esteem and a poor attitude.

The Boxing4Schools programme aims to impact on all of these things and to improve health and fitness as well. When I arrived at the school the excitement, passion and enthusiasm of the staff was palpable, the atmosphere in the hall electric.

And what I witnessed was controlled, well managed, energetic and obviously fun so why have we waited 60 years?

The national newspapers are always commenting on how obese and unfit the population will be in 20 years but that won’t apply to the young people I saw in the ring. It was a priviledge to witness the event and I look forward to Boxing4Schools contributing to a bright and positive future for our young people.

They are the future and it was great

Charles Griggs to be there, demonstrating my support for what will be a great investment for them.

Well done to the Priory school for having the courage to be the first.

I Charles Griggs is the commander of Bromley police

news 11

Bid to get kids playing more Health secretary Alan Johnson MP with Derek Williams and Martin McKenzie of Fight Fit

Boxing initiative fights obesity A BOXING training initiative in London, launched to help tackle childhood obesity, has received a visit from health secretary Alan Johnson.

Fight Fit Training and Development aims to help young people with behavioural problems turn their lives around with a combination of sport and life coaching.

The scheme was set up by FIA member Martin McKenzie and is backed by Derek ‘Sweet D’ Williams, former European and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion.

They launched the ‘Fight Fit, Fight Obesity’ project after working with over 50 young people aged 16 to 21 from some of the most deprived boroughs in London.

Training sessions are run alongside life coaching classes which are used to help the youngsters reach their full potential and avoid bad health and lifestyle choices.

Managing director, Martin McKenzie, said: “A stimulated body and mind is a prerequisite for good health and behavioural change.

“Boxing is a safe way to get rid of

frustration and it gives young people discipline and focus.

“The professional mentoring and personal coaching we provide also helps them see that they do have options and that they can and will make something really positive out of their lives.”

During his visit Mr Johnson commented on how important grassroots initiatives like this are for tackling the obesity problem and praised Fight Fit for inspiring kids who had often not had the best start in life.

A £36m project has been launched to get more children playing sports outside of school hours.

The three year Sport Unlimited programme, run by Sport England, will target 900,000 11-19 year olds and offer less traditional sports like dodgeball, snowboarding and American football.

It has already been successfully piloted in 12 areas and will now be fully rolled out across the country, with 4,000 new sporting projects being set up. One of the pilots saw Active Norfolk survey 25,000 young people to find out exactly what sports they really wanted to take part in. 44 projects were then delivered including ‘Skiing after school’ – a chance for young people from South Norfolk to try snowboarding and skiing at Norfolk Ski Club.

Making a splash SWIMMERS of all ages piled on the miles last month to help those in peril on the sea.

The swimmers from Eston swimming club took part in a sponsored event to raise cash for Redcar Lifeboat with some youngsters setting themselves the tough target of covering two miles in one hour. The swim was the idea of Eston chief swimming coach Ann Forrest, who said: "The lifeboat crew were kind enough to help us earlier this year, and this was my way of saying thank you.”

12 news

Rugby clubs try to get kids involved

By Lyndsey Smith

Kenny MacAskill looks on

Politician meets youngsters SCOTTISH justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, had the chance to meet youngsters benefiting from a new education community initiative, run

by Rangers Football Club.

Part of a large community education programme, the study support centre is on course to reach the one million mark for attendances by the end of 2008, making it one of the largest programmes of its kind run by a football club in Scotland.

Mr MacAskill said: “Rangers, like other Scottish football clubs, are well aware of the support that local communities give them and of the influence they in turn can have.

“This project is a great example of how clubs can give something back to their local community, by providing a resource for local youngsters, some of whom might otherwise be walking the streets or getting up to mischief.

“This is about fostering and improving citizenship and tackling some of the real social problems that exist in Glasgow.

“A lot is said and written about the less appealing side of football but schemes like this show that there is a good deal of very positive work being done by clubs across the country to counteract that.”

PRIMARY school pupils are being paired with professional clubs to promote rugby league to children and increase fitness levels.

Matt Birkett, North West regional development manager, says the Rugby Football League’s national competition framework offers a modified game at year three, all the way through to the 13-a-side game.

He said: “The opportunity is there for rugby league to be enjoyed nationally. Professional clubs run programmes which inform pupils about the benefits of healthy living, anti-bullying, drug awareness and anti-racism, so rugby league fits nicely all the way through a child’s education, teaching them core values, and it benefits the game as a whole as we discover more talent.”

The project sees rugby league festivals, contact, and non contact rugby offered in primary schools across the UK and Matt says their work with school sports partnerships is crucial.

He added: “Our link up with the SSPs is vitally important as we fit well within their structure, assisting them in working towards the five hour offer.

“The health benefits of rugby league are obvious but it can also assist with delivery of messages like anti-bullying and team spirit.

“This is good for the community.

Matt Birkett If we get kids interested within the school curriculum, then routes to community and amateur clubs can only be beneficial in giving kids an outside interest and keeping them off the street.”

Under the scheme, teachers are offered taster sessions where they are mentored by club or coach development officers, assisting and qualifying them in rugby league. Resources available include CD Roms, skills drills booklets and awards, and coaching packs.

Standish High school comes out victorious

By Lyndsey Smith THE CULMINATION of the biggest knock out rugby league tournament in the world saw two teams battle it out at Wembley ahead of the Challenge Cup final.

Standish High school, Wigan, came out strong victors over Pickering School, Hull, in the Carnegie Champion Schools tournament, as the year seven boys competed in a curtain raiser to St Helens v Hull FC. Andy Harland, national development manager for the RFL said: “This year has been tremendous and the competition deserves all the accolades it gets.

“It is a fantastic concept and the finals are now a major event in the rugby league calendar. We have seen the competition grow in size and stature and I’m confident that will only continue into the future.”

Schools from West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, Cheshire, Merseyside

and Greater Manchester competed, with all other stages played at RAF Uxbridge, London.

All those involved took part in a special parade of honour at the cup final with players of the tournament named as: girls, year 7, Sophie Green, Holy Cross, year 8, Jodie Wilkinson, Castleford High school, year 9, Devon Clegg, North Halifax Grammar, and year 10, Kelsey Morgan, Castleford High school.

Boys were named as: year 7, Liam Marshall, Standish High School, year 8, Ryan Hampshire, Freeston College, year 9, Shaun Pick, Castleford High school, and year 10, Jack Pickerill, Airedale High school.

The year 11 finals took place earlier in the year and more than 1,915 schools, 6,780 teams and over 111,232 pupils have taken part in the tournament over the last six years.

news 13

Gyms should forge stronger links with schools – expert

By Christina Eccles GYMS should forge stronger links with schools to encourage girls to exercise as they get older, according to an expert.

YWCA policy development officer Lucy Russell said most people the organisation works with have had a bad experience of PE in school which puts them off exercising once they leave.

She believes if gyms and schools worked more closely with each other, they could encourage girls to like exercise and the gym environment.

She said: “Gyms could make links with schools and offer taster sessions so that girls could go into the gym environment, find out how they work and see they are not scary.

“They also need to make the gym a ‘safe’ space – we find a lot of girls like a women-only environment as going through puberty can make them feel uncomfortable about their bodies.

“It is also important to offer different types of exercise to open their minds so they know there is more on offer than for boys to play football and girls to play netball. Popular alternatives include exercising to music, dance or swimming.

“Making a partnership is a commitment from both the school and the gym. But for gym owners it is also important that they are aware of the curriculum as they cannot just come in and do anything – it needs to meet the school’s needs.”

The YWCA has 15 centres across England and Wales which run different projects to help educate women from disadvantaged communities to discover the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.

I What do you think? Send your comments to Christina Eccles at 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS or email her at ce@whpl.net

Lucy Russell

Performance day AN ELITE performance day for promising young athletes has been delivered in the Midlands in order to showcase their talent.

Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire (CSW) Sport joined forces with Coventry University, to bring together young people in a range of activities.

Over 30 pupils, aged 14 – 16, took part in sports including canoeing, football, netball and badminton, with pupils who had achieved a minimum of regional standard or above nominated to attend by National Governing Bodies and School Sport partnerships. A range of workshops were offered providing the athletes with information to support their training, including nutrition, psychology, flexibility, dealing with the media and time management.

College repeat THE SUCCESS of one college’s multi activities summer course led to a repeat performance last month.

Activities for children aged eight were given the opportunity to play numerous sports in the sports hall and on the playing fields, at Ellesmere college, whilst also swimming and playing games in the indoor pool.

Sports centre manager and course organiser Chris Rogers said: “The summer programme was well supported and we receive lots of positive feedback and we are now looking at developing the course to involve even more varied activities.”

Youngsters steered away from crime YOUNG people in Wales are being steered away from crime and antisocial behaviour thanks to a new fitness facility.

The Engine House community project in the deprived area of Dowlais is using ZigZag’s dance mats to address community problems including a high crime rate, drug and alcohol abuse and poor health.

Paul Marshalsea, community projects coordinator, secured the 18th century building, together with £1m of funding to refurbish in 2002 and has created a play area and bought sports equipment including sports walls and dance mats.

He said: “The area’s antisocial behaviour rate has dropped a staggering 80 per cent since the Engine House Community Project opened.

“We believe that a fence at the top of the cliff is much better than an ambulance at the bottom, and local young people can now see some light at the end of the deprived, unemployed tunnel.”

The Engine House is now a drop in centre that caters for 23 competitive sporting teams as well as 550 young people and 24 local organisations, seven days and nights a week.

Fergus Ahern, ZigZag managing director, said: “The Engine House is an amazing achievement and Paul is now providing a huge number of children in the Dowlais area with a wonderful facility that entertains them, promotes physical activity and, above all, keeps them off the streets in a safe environment.”

Athletic club goes from strength to strength ...

DONCASTER Athletic Club has made it a promotion one, two, three for the Keepmoat Stadium.

The club’s young athletes have finished their season unbeaten and will compete next year in the Northern Premier League.

The facilities at the Keepmoat

Stadium have helped take the club’s membership from 200 to more than 500 inside 18 months, and the success has led to a number of young athletes being selected to represent South Yorkshire at the English Schools National Championships.

Terry Bailey, of the club said: “The guys have done fantastically well this season to go undefeated and they deserve all the accolades possible.”

The Young Athletes’ League provides competition for athletes from 11 to 16 years of age.

14 news

A UK children’s activities provider has launched a new initiative aimed at encouraging families to participate in exercise together and look at making lifestyle changes as a unit. Lyndsey Smith found out more.

Wrighty calls in the SAS in family objective FORMER Arsenal and England football star, Ian Wright, is calling in the SAS in a bid to get families fit together.

The footballer is a big advocate of Fit For Sport’s new family scheme, believing this new project will go a long way to securing the nation’s youngsters a healthier future.

He said: “It’s more motivating and more fun when you exercise together as you can encourage each other and celebrate your achievements together.

“Exercising as a family is more sustainable than going it alone. We need to get them enjoying themselves as a unit, with the obvious health benefits, and provide a solid healthy foundation which will have a knock on effect to a whole round happier life.

We are trying to look at the whole picture.”

He believes the simple, achievable, sustainable approach (SAS) will help families see it doesn’t have to be such hard work keeping fit.

“The main thing is sustainability,” he said. ‘We want to provide a sound basis incorporating activity, diet and nutrition, and hopefully when people

Book boost for fitter initiative A FITTER families book is to be launched in January to complement Fit For Sports new initiative.

Designed to help families make simple changes in their lifestyle habits the book provides ideas and facts following the simple, achievable approach (SAS), a theme of the company.

The book was developed by Dean Horridge whilst working with former Arsenal and England football star, Ian Wright, on the television programme Ian Wright’s Unfit Kids.

Dean said: “The idea for the book was prompted by concerns about families fitness and activity levels, and increasing obesity rates.

“We researched and developed the concept through our experiences of working with families, schools and children across the UK and it is all about encouraging familes to be active and have fun in the SAS way.”

100,000 copies of Fitter Families are set to be released next year.

see how easy it can be they will continue with the program. We believe in SAS, it’s the way to go.”

“We are not telling people what to do, we are asking them. The key is realistic goals and motivation. Start something that is easy to follow.

“No one is saying you can’t have a bag of crisps or a burger, I do it myself. It’s just a case of everything in moderation.”

“What we want to get across is eat right and do the right amount of fitness for yourself. Eat and sleep at the right time and it will happen for you.

You will lose weight and become fitter.”

Ian admits that when confronted with the statistic that only 12 to 16 per cent of the population visit the gym he was alarmed.

“They are missing out on a target audience,” he said. “Gyms should be getting families together encouraging them, maybe creating specific times when families can go together.

“People need to be committed to the cause. My personal commitment to getting our nation’s families fitter and healthier following SAS lifestyle habit changes, is stronger than ever.

Ian Wright ‘I believe with Fit for Sport we can make a difference, and we need to all work together keeping the future fit.

“I have loved every minute of being

involved and I will be for years to come. If people don’t give up on themselves and are willing to give it a try then we won’t give up on them.”

Fit for Sport focuses on the family

By Lyndsey Smith FIT for Sport, one of the UK’s leading children’s healthy lifestyle activities providers, is turning its focus towards family participation after its continuing success with Fitter Schools.

The company, which launched in 1991, thanks to former PE teacher Dean Horridge, has already shown its commitment to helping with children’s fitness, promoting its healthy lifestyles message since it was founded.

The activity programme was designed

by Dean in an effort to decrease obesity levels and increase their motivation for a fitter, healthier life and now he feels it is time to expand that further and look at involving families as a whole.

He said: “We are committed to delivering our promise of keeping the future fit while educating our children and their families to live a healthy lifestyle, and the best way to get children on board is to commit to changes as a family.

“Encouraging your child to be physically active everyday works only if you commit yourself which is what we are trying to promote.

“We’ve got a major obesity, health and fitness problem in Britain and unless we do something about it now 60 per cent of us will be obese by 2050.”

Dean accepts that it can be difficult to commit but feels once people realise the benefits it can only get easier.

“Making lifestyle changes can be

challenging. Especially when you’re busy juggling the demands of daily life.

“But if a family works together and supports each others efforts you’re more likely to succeed, and then eventually healthy habits will become routine and you’ll be well on your way to decreasing childhood obesity and improving your families health.

“Committing together and making small healthy lifestyle changes will result in you becoming a fitter family.

“Kids learn eating and exercise from their parents and they are more likely to copy what you do than what you say.”

The Fitter Families programme is not about losing weight or becoming superfit, Dean emphasises. It’s about encouraging families.

“The programme is an inclusive and fun platform allowing families to change their behaviours and act against the current weight and obesity issues.

“It is very simple for families to adopt and participate in and it will encourage family interaction and togetherness, whilst educating and changing family perceptions about health and fitness.”

The programme will incorporate a fitter families book, roadshow and UK challenge.

news 15

Less than one quarter meet exercise targets

By Lyndsey Smith LESS than a quarter of students meet government exercise targets, according to new research.

The second annual National Active Student Survey (NASS) found less than a quarter of the 30,000 respondents met the government exercise target of 30 minutes three times a week.

Neil Mosley, project leader, said: “The report could not be more timely as the higher education sector moves through a period of dramatic change.

“It’s a vital tool in understanding the environment in which it operates and the current behaviour of our students with regard to participation.

“We will use this as a measure of our success as well as a means to help prioritise activity and resources.”

Students from 148 of the UK’s higher and further education institutions took part in the study, which has been developed to compliment the Sport England Active People survey.

The survey seeks to provide a clear picture of participation in sport by UK students in higher education.

It also aims to establish benchmark figures on a national, regional and

Neil Mosley individual establishment level for facility usage, student representation in competitive sports, general student activity levels as well as attitudes towards activity.

Lawra Joseph, UK marketing manager for Life Fitness, who sponsored the research, said: “We are all about encouraging participation in exercise, whatever the level or activity chosen, and this research helps us to understand our role in the fitness of the student population.”

The research comes as the two national higher education sports organisations merged to form British University and College Sport (BUCS).

A teenager who used to be over three and a half stones overweight has become an award winning swimmer after after taking part in a pioneering programme.

Joe Harris, 13, from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough went on the ten-week Mind, Exercise, Nutrition and Diet (MEND) programme for overweight youngsters.

Joe joined the first programme in September 2007, and took a follow-up programme doing 13 weeks’ intensive

physical activity before joining the swimming club at Eston Sports Academy. He has now been voted swimmer of the month and Ann Forrest, chief swimming coach said: “Since Joe graduated from MEND, he has joined my top swimmers twice a week. I knew straight away he had swimming potential. Within weeks he was becoming a competitive swimmer and he is now in the top squad, which is a remarkable achievement.”

16 design and build

Hockey champ opens new school surface

First part of £35m project opened

By Lyndsey Smith

A £35m leisure project in South Yorkshire has opened the first of its new buildings in a four facility project.

The Rotherham Leisure PFI project, which is due for completion in November next year, will serve the local comprehensive school along with members of the community.

Phil Rogers, director of leisure and culture services at the council said: “Astoncum-Aughton leisure centre is a massive boost, not only for Aston school’s 1,800 pupils but everyone in the surrounding area and I am very proud that we've been able to build a facility of this standard.”

The centre has a 25 metre swimming pool, 12 metre teaching pool, four-court sports hall and a fitness and health suite, incorporating a 30-station gym.

GREAT Britain Olympic hockey gold medallist Steve Batchelor officially opened a secondary school’s new artificial pitch.

Pupils and staff at Barrow Hills school, Surrey, welcomed the 1988 medallist as he cut the ribbon, talked about his Olympic experiences and displayed his gold and bronze medals.

Steve said: “This is a wonderful new all weather surface for Barrow Hills which will, hopefully, one day, produce a future Olympian for the school.”

The pitch was built over the summer and it will be used for hockey, football, netball and tennis, providing an all weather facility and an enhanced playing surface for sport.

Director of sport, Maggie Gartland, said: “We are delighted to have this new facility which will improve the quality of training for hockey in the school.

“Barrow Hills has a long history of success in hockey and was one of the first prep schools in England to play a competitive hockey match.”

Sports captains Tatiana and Jack joined Steve to ceremonially hit the first balls on the new pitch and then children from years 7 and 8 had an hour’s hockey coaching session led by Steve.

Maggie added: “All the pupils who worked with Steve gained a great deal from his experience and enthusiasm.”

Sports captains Tatiana and Jack with Olympic gold medallist Steve Batchelor

Sports hall provides huge boost for Leicestershire school

By Lyndsey Smith SPORTS facilities at a school in Leicestershire have received a huge boost following the construction of a new sports hall.

Humphrey Perkins High School enlisted the help of Collinson, who specialise in this field, in order to build a hall that would be cost effective without compromising on facilities.

This was most important following an unsuccessful bid to the National Sports Foundation for funding and following extensive research the school decided a steel frame tension membrane sports hall would meet their needs.

A number of staff from Humphrey Perkins visited a Collinson sports hall and were very impressed with the quality of construction and state of the art tension membrane system.

Alistair Keates, school manager, said: “Visiting the site confirmed in our minds that working with Collinson would enable us to achieve the sports hall we wanted.”

The solution offered was a

Collinson Challenger series sports hall comprising a tension membrane building with a steel superstructure, to provide a playing area with the floor marked out for badminton, basketball, netball, tennis and volleyball.

Cricket and divisional nets were also installed.

The white translucent roof allows daylight to permeate into the building helping to reduce energy requirements and cut the running costs dramatically whilst providing a light and airy atmosphere.

Ancillary features include: PU sports flooring, rebound walls, storage area, external cladding, sports equipment and netting.

All services are fully integrated with lighting, ventilation, dehumidification and under floor heating to provide the perfect sporting environment.

The project was completed in just six months at a fraction of the cost of a traditional building and Mark Hitch, deputy headteacher said: “We are delighted to gain access to this outstanding facility which will transform the sporting opportunity for our pupils and the local community.”

18 design and build

£90k makeover for Aylesbury ‘open space’

By Lyndsey Smith YOUNGSTERS in Aylesbury are set to benefit from new sport and play facilities following a £90,000 makeover.

The University of Brighton officially opened their new full size third generation pitch which was installed by McArdle AstroTurf.

The official opening was a huge success with the Brighton centre of excellence taking centre stage and Jerry Fairclough, the man behind the original idea of an all weather pitch, said “It has been a long time coming and I am proud that it has finally been achieved”.

The pitch has been designed to be used for football and will also be used for

American Football, and it was used for the first time in a match between the university men’s team and Brighton and Hove Albion’s coaches and past professionals on the launch evening As part of the McArdle Group, and established for more than 30 years, McArdle Astroturf’s past acclaimed projects have included high profile systems installed at Manchester United football club and the Commonwealth Games, as well as working extensively with schools, colleges and local authorities.

The open space in Oakfield Road, Oakfield, now includes a multi-use games area and teenage play and fitness equipment, after a package of improvements was put together by Aylesbury Vale District Council’s green spaces team in consultation with local residents, schools, councillors and the youth cabinet.

The Oakfield Road project was paid for by ‘Section 106 funding’, where developers make a financial contribution to infrastructure, education or play improvements and councillor David Thompson, cabinet member for leisure, said: “Improving our parks and open spaces has always been a major priority and I am delighted that this extensive work has been carried out to benefit all the community.

“With the new multi-use games area and play equipment, young people now have a brand new facility they can be proud of.

“Local people have played a key part in this project and I would like to thank everyone who took part and shared their views.”

The multi-use games area will offer youngsters a place to participate in a range of sporting activities, such as football and basketball, in a safe environment.

Young people can also enjoy exciting new equipment such as a twinfly (a rotating piece for two people), a fitness trail and a large single point swing, and in addition, a youth shelter with solar powered lighting will also be installed.

AVDC is also planning to upgrade the children’s play area in nearby Denby Walk once funding becomes available.

It’s hoped the new facilities will provide a focus for young people in the area to target their energy in a positive way.

Congratulations to East Grinstead sports and social club whose G4S netball centre won the Rose Award for contribution to the development of netball at grass roots level. The facility, constructed by McArdle Sport-Tec was built specifically for netball and has nine courts over three tiers. Phyllis Avery, president of England netball, officially opened the netball centre in the summer and the scheme was funded by mid Sussex Council, Sport England, the National Sports foundation as well as G4S.

If you’ve got a story for Future Fitness please call Lyndsey Smith on 01226 734472 or email her: ls@whpl.net. You can fax: 01226 734705 or write to us: Future Fitness newsroom, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS

?? news

$GYHUWLVHU路V $QQRXQFHPHQW

20 design and build

New centre for area labelled most deprived in Scotland

By Louise Cordell A NEW sports centre for kids has been opened in an area once dubbed the most deprived community in Scotland.

The Wellhouse Community Trust are behind the four-court HubSports centre in Glasgow’s Easterhouse and the facility is already helping to improve young people’s health and fitness.

Trust manager Pauline Smith said: “There has never been anything like this in the area and it is much needed. Incomes in the area are low, health in general is bad across the region, there is high unemployment, so getting the healthy lifestyle message across is essential – and the younger we can reach people then the better

The centre offers 15 diffferent sports. chance we have of making a real difference.”

The centre offers 15 different sports including basketball, badminton, football, netball, gymnastics, rugby and dance and boxing classes.

It also works in partnership with local primary schools to provide PE facilities and is set to share new outdoor spaces and equipment with a new school that is being built nearby.

Pauline said: “Our focus at the moment is to keep costs as low as possible – currently £1 is the maximum we charge for any activity, but that is still too much for some families.

“However, we are struggling with funding and we are trying to find a balance between keeping costs affordable to all and hopefully, eventually, becoming self sufficient so that we can survive

without relying on donations.”

The club is also aiming to provide its own training programme for young people who want to become sports coaches.

It is hoped that the qualifications will help them gain jobs within the industry, either working at HubSports or elsewhere.

Pauline added: “Attending these sessions has a huge effect on many areas of the young people’s lives, on top of improving their health and fitness. They have more confidence in themselves, and it also goes a long way towards solving gang and territorial problems in the area.

“Mixing kids from different estates and getting them to do something positive as a team really helps to knit the community closer together.”

design and build

Local authorities determined to join BSF programme

By Lyndsey Smith AS PLANS progress on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, local authorities nationwide are continuing to express their interest and determination to take part.

The initiative is the biggest-ever school buildings investment programme and, ultimately, aims to rebuild or renew nearly every secondary school in England over the coming years.

With this degree of redevelopment on the horizon, the ideal opportunity has arisen for schools and local authorities to come together to create facilities that are not only state-of-the-art, but will provide long lasting benefits to all those who come into contact with them.

Aside from the immediate academic gains to teachers and pupils, through improved teaching environments and amenities, the BSF project allows schools to

develop the all-round welfare of the school and those in its immediate vicinity.

Through the inclusion of quality health and fitness facilities, schools can begin to tackle the increasingly prominent issue of childhood obesity and their unfortunate apathy towards taking exercise.

Nick Sadler, director at health and fitness solutions company, Motive8, feels very strongly about the benefits of integrating exercise into children’s lifestyles from an early age.

He said: “The sad reality is that nowhere near enough children are receiving their minimum curricular physical education requirement of 2 hours per week.

“Lessons are often uninspiring and children are left sat on the sidelines during PE lessons instead of getting active and involved.

“The inclusion of fantastic health and fitness facilities within

schools has the potential to not only benefit those directly associated with the school such as pupils, teachers and parents, but also those within the local community who live and work nearby.

“Facilities can be shared between literally hundreds of people.

“Pupils and teachers can utilise them during school hours, whilst after-schools clubs and community organisations can benefit outside of these hours”.

“In the gyms that we have installed across the country, the resulting improvements in both fitness and community interaction have been astounding and I’d love to see a similar scenario happening in schools.”

With survey and planning work now well underway in numerous local authorities, schools across England could be enjoying their new facilities from as early as next year.

Leisure centre bids to deliver on all fronts A LEISURE centre in Cumbria has undergone an extensive re-development in order to deliver the best possible service to the community.

The Parks leisure centre, Barrow, has gone to great lengths to ensure it delivers on all fronts as it competes in an increasingly crowded and competitive market place.

They hope to offer the right mix of services to deliver the facilities their local population wants to use, so not only has the site undergone a development and refurbishment programme, they have also worked closely with local schools to ensure the centre would include elements that attract young members.

Margaret Wilson, centre manager, is certain the new facilities will have a positive impact on the local community. She said: “This development has given us the opportunity to cater for this market in a more comprehensive way. We see fitness becoming a family activity where the parents and children exercise in their own areas then meet within the social area to unwind.”

The council has funded the £1.2m improvement scheme and has signed up to a ten-year investment and services partnership agreement with Pulse. The design is centred around the introduction of a second floor to house a dedicated children’s gym for children aged between eight and 14. Margaret said: “We are certain that offering a children’s gym and dedicated classes are just the start of what will become the blueprint for gyms nationally.”

21

22 news

Overweight camp draws children from all over the world ...

By Lyndsey Smith A CAMP to help overweight children get fitter was hosted in Cumbria this summer with teenagers from across the globe taking part.

Wellspring UK, on the banks of Lake Windermere, Newby Bridge, had a contingent from Russia, USA, Middle East and the UK take part in four, six or eight week camps, which offered advice on healthy diet and exercise.

The camps used to be held at the University of Cumbria campus in Penrith, but had to move to cope with increased demand.

Ian Carter, camp director, said: “This was the third Wellspring UK camp and it was the busiest. This year has seen an increased contingent of overseas students as well as more UK campers and you tend to find whenever there is a new media take on the obesity issue we see a sharp rise in enquiries.”

Youngsters who attended the camp went abseiling, rock climbing and canoeing, while pursuing their daily goal of 10,000 steps per day.

Daily menus included three meals, two healthy snacks, plus unlimited foods like fat-free yoghurts, fruits, and salads.

Average weight-loss was 4lbs per week and 70 per cent of campers go on to keep that weight off or to lose more once at home.

Ian added: “We teach campers how to approach diet and exercise in their everyday lives so when they leave us they are equipped to make healthy choices for long-term weight control.”

Wellspring UK’s parent group Wellspring is the leading organisation of treatment programmes for overweight and obese children and runs 12 camps worldwide.

‘Transforming a generation’ A NEW initiative to help unemployed youths find work in the fitness industry has been launched

by FIA chairman Fred Turok.

The ‘Transforming A Generation’ (TAG) pilot scheme, developed specifically for 18 to 24 year olds with no qualifications, has been created by a team of training professionals and potential employers.

Fred said: “Society’s obsession with academic qualifications is almost a form of professional apartheid.

“There are many young people who, for any number of reasons, are alienated from out education process at school and are therefore condemned to living in the shadows of society.

“Their only career prospects are either securing a series of badly paid, unrewarding jobs, or to seek an alternative ‘career’ on the wrong side of the law.”

TAG consists of an intensive six month programme which combines business skills, academic work, practical training and two work placements.

Students are able to chose from

four specialist modules, boxing, community activity programmes, gym based exercises and studio based exercises and are provided with a personal mentor as well as a two year personal development plan.

It costs nothing to join up and they will also be supported financially throughout the programme and registered with REPs after graduating.

When they have completed the course students will be able to work in a gym or leisure centre, become a self employed fitness trainers, work as a community activity specialist or use the qualification as a springboard to something like physiotherapy.

It is hoped that the launch of this pilot will be the beginning of a long term initiative which will result in 100 TAG centres across Britain and 6,000 newly qualified trainers, in the next five years.

Fred added: “We wanted to develop a whole life solution, which would draw this community into our society, equip them to compete successfully for careers, not just jobs and help them under-

Pictures: Matthew Rosenberg stand that they have a vital and important role to play in the world.”

afPE chief leads conference THE EIGHTH annual PE & School Sports conference and exhibition will take place this month at the City of Manchester stadium.

Leading the day will be afPE chief executive, Margaret Talbot, along

with speakers Crichton Casbon, educational consultant to the QCA and Ade Adepitan MBE and Nick Heyworth from Paralympics UK who have recently returned from Beijing.

Schools pilot coaching programme TWO schools in Norfolk have piloted a new coaching qualification as part of a programme to introduce multi sport coaching.

The new level one qualification developed between Edexcel, In2Sport UK Ltd and KC Education and Training Ltd is part of a program designed to introduce multi sport coaching into a range of areas such as schools, colleges, young offenders

institutions and clubs, along with programmes for the Prince’s Trust.

Pupils from Sprowston Community High School, Norwich, and Alderman Peel High School, Wells, who successfully completed the course, received certificates and although starting as a level one, Edexcel accredited their work as level two, the equivalent of a pass at GCSE, due to the high standard.

news 23

Huge interest in youth activity at LIW

By Jonathan Williams, SHOKK MD I HAVE returned from another extremely busy Leisure Industry Week and my honest view of the show must be a positive one, mainly due to the huge interest now surrounding youth activity.

SHOKK has been involved with the show for over six years and I have noticed a huge growth in the youth specific side of the industry, confirming the hard work we’ve put in has definitely made a positive impact.

Our first year consisted of a small stand with me frantically explaining the benefits of youth activity; it’s great to see how far this has come.

LIW 2008 saw no less than 10 stands focusing on this very subject, with over 14,000 attendees embracing the idea; and what a feeling to know we

were here from the start and helped build the industry.

My invitation to present at the Major Moves conference was also a great opportunity to witness new fitness developments, specifically within the interactive industry. It’s amazing to see how many companies have now embraced, what was once a novel idea. However this now needs to grow and develop into a balanced approach and for the industry to realise that youth activity does not begin and end with video games.

Fitness professionals need focus on how to get young people active! My focus has always been embracing young people’s interests and using these to get them active and not just assume a cleverly marketed computer game will get them all on their feet.

We need to understand the process

of working with young people without patronising them. We need to look at not just the positives of interactivity, but how to combat youth inactivity as a whole. It is so important to get children to buy into a complete positive lifestyle, which has to include everyone at all levels. We need to find ways of exciting and engaging them all. This is not a one stop solution; constant development is needed to retain them, so when they start on a positive route they stay there. A great way of achieving this is to make it fashionable, make them want to get involved, totally and engage one hundred percent.

Therefore we need to remember that interactivity doesn’t work alone, it has to incorporate everything; nutrition, outdoor education, cardiovascular and resistance activity, linking workouts to specific sports. In short

Jonathan Williams the complete holistic approach.

I am so proud that youth fitness is now taken seriously, so seriously that government and industry bodies have set up specific schemes and grants to help further development.

But most importantly, all new developments will help the youth of today improve – socially, psychologically and physically in order to keep them on the active lifestyle straight and narrow.

Southampton in £50k investment in Olympic hopefuls A £50,000 investment by Southampton council could enhance the city’s prospects of producing future Olympic stars.

The money will fund the first year of a scheme, in partnership with Solent university, that will see coaching staff and students studying for sports degrees, now teach everything from athletics to rugby at a number of schools across the city.

University coach and education

development officer, Paul Davies, said: "This is a superb opportunity for our students to work within the local community and make a real difference. Schools we have already worked with have been highly proactive in appreciating the importance of physical activity as part of a young person's development.

“We are looking forward to building on these relationships, and what better time to do so than off

the back of Team GB's success".

Just four years ahead of London 2012, it is hoped the partnership will increase physical activity and participation in team activities, as well as allowing students to pick up important leadership experience.

The programme of sports will be determined with each school, depending on their requirements, but will include athletics, football, tag rugby, cricket, tennis and basketball.

Councillor Jeremy Moulton added: "The university is at the heart of the city community and is keen to share its expertise with us.

“With the London 2012 Olympics coming up fast, we want to ensure our young people's sporting aspirations are matched by opportunities to take part in activities.

“We are delighted to be working with the students on this important project to increase the number of young people taking up sport.”

24 news

Youth sport expert and former international athlete Brian Dickens says a lack of sustainable funding is putting youth fitness at risk. Louise Cordell reports.

Funding issue ‘putting youth fitness at risk’ BRIAN has been working to develop national and local community sports programmes for 28 years and is partnership advisor for national charity StreetGames and director of the North Lambeth and North Southwark Sport Action Zone.

One of his biggest achievements has been the transformation of a derelict 1960s school building on a south east London estate into a community sports centre that now attracts over 1,000 young people a week.

The area was once well known for its levels of crime and community tensions, but the Lilian Baylis sports centre is now used as a leading example of community cohesion in practice.

However, Brian points out that for projects like this to be successful they need time and sustained investment, which is not always forthcoming.

He added: “Funding is still an issue, especially in terms of sustainability, because if the money runs out then you have built up the kids’ expectations for something you are not able to deliver.

“There are a lot of good providers out there now, and they really need

to be picked up and supported continually so they can keep doing a good job.

“The people involved need to know that they will be there in a couple of years - the kids can tell if you are not going to be around for any length of time and that will have a negative impact.

“However, if they can see that the leaders are committed then they reciprocate that and get so much more out of whatever they are doing.”

Brian, who this year was awarded an MBE for his contribution to youth sport in London, developed StreetGames in 2003 with the aim of improving sports provision in disadvantaged communities.

The scheme originally used ‘doorstep’ football to attract children from housing estates and has now developed into a national organisation with over sixty sports projects established around the UK. He added: “I think there has been a fundamental change in the provision of sport for young people over the last few years.

“There is now an understanding of the neighbourhood model - giving the kids opportunities in their

local community first.

“Taking that first step and reaching out to make contact addresses many of the issues that are barriers to sport in the first place, including confidence, cohesion and community safety.

“I think the challenge now is to keep developing these schemes and to get people working together in order to get them rolled and and available to more kids.

“It is happening gradually, but it is important to ensure that profiles stay high.”

Brian believes that the community based mechanism will always be needed, even with the improvements in school facilities, as youth workers are able to reach kids that teachers sometimes can't.

He is now working to improve relationships between the two, in order to give more kids more opportunities, including the vocational training available and the chance for gifted pupils to take their sport to the next level.

He added: "It was my youth workers and PE teachers who really helped push me towards my athletics career and were always supportive, even during the times I went off the rails, so I really just

Brian Dickens wanted to give something back.

“That is the whole reason I got into community sport and I am always focussed on developing the best ways to get kids involved in these projects long term and making sure there is ongoing support for them.”

Students enjoy SET masterclass

Sports touring ‘comes of age’ A GRAMMAR school has clocked up 18 years of sports touring with its latest hockey and football tour to Holland.

Simon Langton Boys Grammar school in Kent originally toured the Netherlands as part of the long-running NST SportsClass, which has since been taken over and re-branded as the SET MasterClass.

Veteran group leader, John Mitchell, has had nothing but positive experiences with the tours and thoroughly enjoys each trip to the Netherlands.

He said: “The tours are simple but very well organised and we’ve really got to know people in the town. “It’s become a bit of a religion for us now and at the moment I’m working with SET to finalise the last details of this year’s tour and as soon as we get back I’ll be getting on with booking the next one.”

John has had experience with both Dutch destinations, Noordwijk aan Zee on the North Sea Coast, about an

hour’s drive from Amsterdam, and Valkenburg, deep in the south of the country, close to the borders with Germany and Belgium.

He said: “For years we toured Noordwijk but one year had to relocate to Valkenburg due to availability and we’ve never actually gone back, though some day I hope to as Noordwijk is a fantastic touring destination.”

The MasterClass programme involves coaching sessions for football, netball, basketball, hockey and rugby from SET's coaching team.

Teams are also offered fixtures against local opposition and an endof-week tournament and disco and John added: “Keeping the pupils occupied is our secret. With so much to do locally, including toboggan runs, laser-tag, pancake houses and bags and bags of sport, we don't give our lot time to get up to any mischief.”

news 25 Children at a school in Wimbledon are being taught fitness programmes by prisoners as part of a pioneering scheme. Roger Legate, headteacher at Linden Lodge School, reports.

Prisoners give children fitness lessons THE gym training at Wandsworth Prison offers high quality physical education for students with blindness and learning disabilities.

Two school staff and eight students make weekly visits to the prison to use its gym facilities.

Inmates assist them in their training and exercise while prison officers and staff from Linden Lodge monitor their work and record achievements.

Each of the inmates are following either a Community Sports Leader Award (CSLA) or a Central YMCA Qualification (CYQ) course with a view to undertaking sport and leisure-related employment when they leave prison.

Each of the sessions begins with a group warm-up accompanied by a verbal explanation of the muscles involved.

This encourages body awareness which is particularly important for people with visual impairment, but since each child and young person has close individual support, they are each able to follow their own fitness and training programmes – something which would not be possible within a regular PE lesson.

Children and young people and inmates also play occasional five-a-

side football in the prison sports hall. An audible ball is used and the inmates are encouraged to wear blindfolds to make the game an equal one.

It is inevitable that some of them will sometimes ask an inmate why he is in prison.

This stimulates a lot of discussion from which they learn valuable lessons about personal responsibility and society. Experience between Linden Lodge children and young people and the Wandsworth prisoners suggest these contacts create an opportunity for everyone to gain from the development of feelings of personal value and self worth.

The initiative has led not only to huge improvements in the children and young people’s gymnastic abilities, but also in their self-confidence. Parents, teachers, our dietician and school nurse are seeing continual improvement in their health, fitness levels and general wellbeing. They have become more active and are more aware of their movement and mobility capabilities.

It also builds towards the rehabilitation of inmates by helping them to develop new skills and work towards a formal qualification and

Pupil Joe Scott receives his award from Sally Gunnell OBE and members of staff

new career path to use upon release.

Many of the prison officers attend and help out at our school sports days and do fund-raising on our behalf.

The IT department at the prison uses their resources to produce materials in large print while some

inmates have been educated in the use and reading of braille.

It has also attracted significant outside interest with the Mayor of Wandsworth visiting the prison to experience a gym session for himself and we were also named Overall Winner at the annual Health for Kids Awards 2007.

26 news

Life’s Dandy for talented kids Inactivity challenged

By Louise Cordell

By Lyndsey Smith YOUTH inactivity is being challenged in an interactive way in Mildenhall thanks to a multi player dance system.

The Dome leisure centre have introduced Shokks new dance mat in a bid to keep the local youth entertained and off the street.

Since the closure of the local youth club, children in the area have had little to do outside of school hours and Kate Tucker, duty manager of the Dome, and instigator of the new scheme, noticed the growing trend of bored youngsters and decided to look into different activity options.

She said: “More and more local children were complaining of having nothing to do and just hanging around the car park.

‘The dance mats looked a great option as they can be used by everyone, no matter what their gender, age or ability.

“I tested the concept and invited the pupils from Mildenhall College of Technology to test possible interest and we had more and more children coming along to see what all the fuss was about.”

TALENTED kids who want to take their sporting career further are being offered a year’s free membership by a Leicestershire gym.

Antony Dandy, owner of Chapel Health and Fitness, is asking local children who play their sport at county level or above to apply for one of 20 free memberships.

The kids that win the places will also receive help planning a 12 month training and fitness programme, tailored specifically to their chosen activity.

Tony said: “I think it is a shame that unless sports people are playing at the very highest levels then they don’t get a great deal of support, financial or otherwise.

“I believe that if people are representing their country, even at some of the less well known sports, they they deserve some help.

“I know a lot of children and teenagers miss out on sporting opportunities to play at a higher level because of a lack of funds and I know how hard it can be for parents who want to support their children.

“I wanted to do something to help solve this problem, especially for those involved in the less well supported activities.”

An ex-army physical trainer and boxing coach, Tony took up martial arts after leaving the army 11 years ago.

He bought the gym five years ago to

teach martial arts, but gradually expanded to include full gym facilities.

The club now provides children's dance, boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Boxercise and Tai Bo classes.

Tony said: “I think children particularly like martial arts because there is a lot more to them than most people think.

“We do a lot of the teaching through specially created games, which makes learning the moves fun for

Athletes on tour

By Lyndsey Smith YOUNGSTERS are to tour the country acting as role models for other young people as part of a nationwide scheme celebrating Britain’s hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Young Ambassador programme, managed by the Youth Sport Trust (YST), has received backing from London 2012 organisers and Great Britain stars from Beijing and it will see more than 5,500 14-19 year olds working as role models in schools and local communities in the run up to 2012.

Each will promote the Olympic and Paralympic values of sport, PE and a healthy lifestyle to other youngsters.

Paul Deighton, chief executive of the London Organising Commitee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) officially opened the first of this year’s six regional conferences in York and he said: “The Young Ambassador programme will help bring the benefits of the 2012 Games to every part of the UK and we are delighted to recognise the scheme through our Inspire programme.

“Mirroring our brand values, only the most accessible, participative, inspiring and stimulating projects and events will achieve the Inspire mark, part of London 2012’s brand family.”

“This is the first initiative to receive the Mark for education and it forms an important part of the PE and sport strand of Get Set, the official London 2012 education programme.”

This academic year’s record intake of 1,000 Young Ambassadors will attend the conferences to help give them the skills to lead school assemblies, mentor other youngsters and get more young

people participating in sport.

Each has been specially selected by the 450 School Sport Partnerships in England, either because of their strong sporting talent or through their commitment to sports leadership and volunteering.

Jasmine Scott, who is coming to the end of her second year said: “I’ve had an amazing experience and have a passion for the programme and how it helps young people to inspire other young people.

“Over the last two years there have been so many highlights. I’ve spoken on live radio, worked with many Olympic and Paralympic athletes, volunteered twice at the UK School Games and chaired young people steering groups, and I’m determined to continue encouraging more youngsters to be inspired through sport.”

Steve Grainger, chief executive of the YST added: “The programme embodies the promise made when London won the right to host the 2012 Games – to use the Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire young people to choose sport.

“It’s an initiative which empowers young people to inspire their friends and peers and will form a key part of the London 2012 activities in schools.

“The YST is thrilled the programme has received official recognition from the organisers of the 2012 Games.”

them.

“It is very rewarding and I always see a massive increase in confidence in the kids who have taken it on.

“It is also important to remember that it doesn’t just appeal to the kids that want to fight.

“Some love sparring, but others just like going through the patterns and learning about the sport’s history and culture – and we try to bring all these elements together.”

Teenage swimmer James looks ahead to 2012

By Lyndsey Smith A 17-YEAR-OLD student swimmer from the North East is focusing on the 2012 Olympics following a trip to Beijing.

James Welford, of Heaton Manor School, Newcastle, was selected as a Young Ambassador, one of only four from the UK, chosen by the British Olympic Federation’s Youth Sport Trust.

He spent ten days in China representing his country following a rigorous selection process which he says, although hard work, was worth it.

“It was a tough ordeal,” he said.

“Each of us had to take part in a workshop where we participated in a debate, gave presentations in a group, and tried to sell our Olympic idea to a board. We were then interviewed separately. It was extremely nerve-wracking waiting to see if I had been selected,” he said.

“It was totally worth it though.

Being in Beijing was such an inspiration and my own ambitions are now there to be realised.

“At the opening ceremony I sat within reach of my sporting hero, Michael Phelps. It was an awesome experience.”

James was nominated as an ambassador by the Newcastle SSP, and he has been representing them since September of last year.

He was recommended to the Youth Sport Trust (YST) by his

James Welford school sport co-ordinator, Ted Baty, and his final selection was based on his performance as an athlete, his leadership, and his debating and presentation skills.

He has now been recruited for a national road show to speak about his Olympic experiences as the YST tours the country inspiring young people to get involved in the scheme ahead of 2012.

23

Resource Directory.