12-13 YOUTH FOCUS:Layout 1 8/2/08 17:12 Page 2
YOUTH FOCUS
fitness for the youth sector has energy. It’s a vital component
teamed up with the SLAM of a child’s development and
Community Development Trust in as responsible adults it’s our
County Durham. duty to make it as accessible
Developed by Ian Hirst, as possible.
Chairman at SLAM (Spectrum “Basketball won’t appeal to
Leisure and Management) and every child but it will appeal to
head coach for Wear Valley some. If we can just get a few
Basketball Club, said the extra children participating on a
programme takes basketball to regular basis, the initiative will
the doorstep of children in have been a success.”
disadvantaged areas. Childhood The project offers primary
obesity and the associated schools the opportunity to
health risks are a growing integrate 6-10 free basketball
concern in the county and Ian coaching sessions into the PE
believes that delivering sport at curriculum. Ian continues:
Kids scheme to boost
grassroots level is key to tackling “There is currently no funding
the problem. available from local
basketball in UK
“Playing sport teaches so much government to deliver this
more than physical skill,” says Ian. project so we were delighted
A unique new scheme is about to children in local primary “It helps to develop social skills, when SHOKK offered to
to deliver free, professionally schools. SHOKK, a company breakdown race barriers, provide the much needed
instructed basketball sessions which specialises in professional encourage camaraderie and burn financial support.”
Kids exercise more away
junk food consumed and more “The more we can do to
fruit eaten in the school holidays encourage children to be
from school says survey
than term-time. active, the better and making
Staged entirely by children, the exercise fun is the key - this is
Children do more exercise The vast majority (96%) of test is being touted as a valuable one of the strong messages in
during their school holidays respondents aged 12 said they insight into children’s lifestyles. the children’s own research,”
than term-time, a new report did more exercise in the summer Dr Mary Kellett, Director of she added.
has claimed. holidays than term-time. the children’s research centre at Dawn Primarolo, Public Health
Published in conjunction with In addition, eight out of ten the Open University, said it was Minister, said it was a first-rate
the Open University, the research said they got enjoyment from important the research was report and a good example of
commissioned by La Manga their holiday exercise, with those conducted “free of adult filters how to engage children.
Club in Spain suggests that who travel abroad typically doing and adult influence”, adding Earlier this week statistics
holiday exercise is more the most. that it was also vital that were published showing there
engaging for children and is Holiday eating was also childhood obesity was are around one million obese
more prevalent. shown to be healthier, with less addressed. children under 16 in the UK.
School to club leap still “a massive step”
The jump from school to club people stop doing sport all high quality clubs in a wide range role of competitive sport. Clubs
continues to be a massive step together each year when they of sports. It’s about developing have a really important role to
in sport and fitness in the UK. reach the age of 16. For girls the young people’s talent and play. For the middle 50% group
Mike Diaper, Project Director drop happens even earlier – enabling them to progress in their where kids are doing some sport
of the Schools and Sports around 14. sport. For our most talented but could, with the right offer, be
Partnership told the SSP Best practice tells us that where youngsters – a very small number encouraged to do much more
conference that the National school sport partnerships link up – it’s also about handing them on it’s about creating both
School Sport Strategy has done into county sports partnerships, safely to UK Sport and hopefully additional supply and demand.
a fantastic job at getting school with national governing bodies winning medals. Sport England’s “On the supply side it’s about
children doing sport. and health partners linked in, then role is also to help ensure making sure activities get
“What it hasn’t yet done is you can stem the drop off. We youngsters’ needs are at the heart delivered in the right place at the
truly stop the drop off in sports need to make it easier for you to of governing body plans. right time. So running a session
participation which happens make the right links locally. We need just as much when the youngsters wants it –
when young people leave For the top 30% group of innovation within clubs or so perhaps Saturday afternoon –
compulsory schooling at 16. youngsters, who are turned on community environments as we instead of straight after school
Our Active People survey tells and engaged in sport it’s about have seen within school settings.” when they are worn out and
us that, at least, 25,000 young making sure we have sufficient Steve highlighted in his talk the cheesed off.”
12 UK LEISURE NEWS January / February 2008 www.ukleisurenews.co.uk
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32