Thousands of people across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes have benefited from a £100,000 programme to encourage youngsters to become involved in sport.
The ‘Sportivate’ initiative, which ran across the county over the past year, funded 221 projects.
Over 3,000 young people, aged 11 to 25, were involved for a period of six to eight weeks, with the aim of engaging those who do not regularly participate in sport or activity.
The programme is funded by Sport England, administered locally by the team here at Leap and delivered by our valued partners.
One of the most successful schemes, the Kickstart 100 project, was delivered in Aylesbury. It was launched by the Disability Karate Federation and developed to engage 100 disabled people in martial arts.
The sessions integrated elements of history, basic maths, language and social skills to the physical movements supporting participants in their mental health and emotional needs alongside their physical development.
So far, more than 100 young people aged between 11 and 24 have taken part in the classes based at Stoke Mandeville and ten teachers who have also taken up Karate are training as Activator Coaches.
Other projects included:
This Girl Can Be Healthy
This Girl Can ‘Be Healthy’ is a project combining exercise and nutrition, locally activating the national This Girl Can campaign and empowering young women in Milton Keynes to make healthier choices.
Click here to find out more about the project.
Junior Firefit
An innovative project which combines fire education and the promotion of a more active lifestyle, resulting in a long lasting effect on participants outlook and behaviour in school and in their local community.
Click here to find out more about the project.
Boxing with refugees
Click here to find out more about the project
Leap’s Director Mark Ormerod said: “We are thrilled by the success of this year’s schemes. Sportivate projects offer free and subsidised coaching in a variety of activities to offer young people a taster of just how fun, enjoyable and social being active can be. Importantly, it also creates awareness of how imperative regular physical activity is to their future health and wellbeing.”
For more information or to express an interest in the programme, please contact Jacqueline Galvin via email jgalvin@leapwithus.org.uk or call 01296 585884.