Latest news with #SportsStarFriday
South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Prime Minister announces new PE plan in National School Sports Week
Sir Keir Starmer outlined a commitment to ensure that every school will do two hours of PE and sport each week with equal access for girls and boys and equal opportunities for disabled week. It comes in a week during which the Youth Sport Trust has had thousands of schools up and down the country focusing on getting children active and trying new ways to achieve those aims. 'It's been the most phenomenal week. We've been all across the UK as a team, visiting different schools that have been running different things,' reflected Ali Oliver OBE, Youth Sport Trust CEO. 'We have reached around half a million children. It's been because it's been a week where schools have shone a light on physical activity and the importance of playing sport. 'It's given us an opportunity to celebrate things. We've seen award ceremonies and standing here right now we're about to see a gymnastics performance. 'But also, it's been an opportunity to experiment with things that enable the school day to always be active.' Oliver was attending Torriano Primary School in Camden on the final day of National School Sports Week to see young leaders from the pupil body coach their peers through a carousel of sports, ranging from gymnastics to archery. It is part of a push to ensure all children reach the Chief Medical Officer's guidance of 60 active minutes a day, with under half of the UK's children currently reaching that goal. Pupils also dressed up as their heroes to celebrate Sports Star Friday and even had the opportunity to meet some, with Olympic sprinter Montell Douglas, Paralympic footballer Alistair Patrick-Heselton and England rugby international Shaunagh Brown all in attendance. 'It's really important to make a stance and have a big celebration around all of this because if we don't then it just goes under the radar,' said Douglas, who now stars on the BBC's Gladiators as 'Fire'. 'The things that Torriano are doing around using PE and play and all the activities that I've seen them doing today is amazing and you can see how confident they are. 'Some of the games they're doing are quite competitive and they're building resilience and learning a new skill. It's really important because these are life skills and it creates a positive relationship with their bodies.' All three elite sports stars got stuck into proceedings and even participated in a Q&A with the pupils who were not shy to challenge them to a race. Torriano Primary School ensure sport and activity are embedded in their curriculum, encouraging children to wear active footwear as part of a no uniform policy to remove barriers to activity. 'The arts and sports are really, really important for children's well-being,' emphasised deputy head Rose O'Brien. 'Those life skills stay with them forever. Building those habits of fitness, training and loving doing this outdoors is so important. 'You might not know what sports you like but [it's important] the opportunities to try those sports are available to you in primary because when are you going to try them in secondary if you haven't built that skill already? '[School] is often where a love of sport starts, with the dream of going to the Olympics or playing for Arsenal, those are key things.' National School Sports Week is an annual campaign by the Youth Sport Trust, dedicated to celebrating the power of PE, sport, and play to build brighter futures. This year, powered by Sports Direct x Under Armour, marks the 30th anniversary of the Youth Sport Trust, who is a UK leading children's charity for improving young people's wellbeing through sport and play. Visit
South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Douglas believes role models important to inspire children
Douglas, who now stars on BBC's Gladiators as 'Fire', met students who had dressed up as in Gladiator t-shirts to emulate their hero at Torriano Primary School on Friday. It formed part of the Youth Sport Trust's initiative to get children to meet their recommended 60 active minutes a day and create inspiration through role models, something Douglas believes can be transformative. 'Role model are the primary source of people's vicarious experience,' she said. 'Someone might look, speak, feel, dress like them. It's just really great for representation to be able to see. 'When you have someone you can look up to it gives you the spark to think maybe I can and that is enough. 'Trying and failing is fine, it's not trying that we don't want to happen, and role models really bring that home and encourage trying.' Douglas who was a 100m British record holder and competed in bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics has since appeared in Strictly Come Dancing as well as the Gladiators reboot. She was on hand to provide inspiration for the pupils in Camden, alongside England rugby international Shaunagh Brown and Paralympic footballer Alistair Patrick-Heselton as the children also came dressed as a range of sporting icons. 'The whole aim of this day is to allow children to dress up as whoever their hero is in sport. It allows young people to think about their role models in sport, who are these great people that they can follow?' explained Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver OBE. 'A key part of Sports Star Friday is researching the journey of some of these athletes. 'It helps young people realise that they don't grow up and just have some super gene that allows them to be extraordinary. They're actually people just like them with goals, with ambitions and that's really important. 'So, imagine World Book Day, Sports Star Friday is just like that but with sport.' It forms part of the Youth Sport Trust's wider campaign to get more children active, with less than half of children currently hitting the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation of 60 active minutes a day, a minimum for normal growth and development. At Torriano Primary School, Douglas and her elite sporting peers were privy to best practice in getting children active throughout the school day with pupils participating in a self-led carousel of sports ranging from archery to gymnastics. 'It's so essential for children to be active,' added Oliver. 'There are 2.5 million children who do less than 30 minutes of activity a day. That will impact their health, how they feel, how they connect to their body, how they socialise with people and therefore how their brains develop. 'If we want children to thrive in life, we need physical activity.' National School Sports Week is an annual campaign by the Youth Sport Trust, dedicated to celebrating the power of PE, sport, and play to build brighter futures. This year, powered by Sports Direct x Under Armour, marks the 30th anniversary of the Youth Sport Trust, who is a UK leading children's charity for improving young people's wellbeing through sport and play. Visit
Glasgow Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Prime Minister announces new PE plan in National School Sports Week
Sir Keir Starmer outlined a commitment to ensure that every school will do two hours of PE and sport each week with equal access for girls and boys and equal opportunities for disabled week. It comes in a week during which the Youth Sport Trust has had thousands of schools up and down the country focusing on getting children active and trying new ways to achieve those aims. 'It's been the most phenomenal week. We've been all across the UK as a team, visiting different schools that have been running different things,' reflected Ali Oliver OBE, Youth Sport Trust CEO. 'We have reached around half a million children. It's been because it's been a week where schools have shone a light on physical activity and the importance of playing sport. 'It's given us an opportunity to celebrate things. We've seen award ceremonies and standing here right now we're about to see a gymnastics performance. 'But also, it's been an opportunity to experiment with things that enable the school day to always be active.' Oliver was attending Torriano Primary School in Camden on the final day of National School Sports Week to see young leaders from the pupil body coach their peers through a carousel of sports, ranging from gymnastics to archery. It is part of a push to ensure all children reach the Chief Medical Officer's guidance of 60 active minutes a day, with under half of the UK's children currently reaching that goal. Pupils also dressed up as their heroes to celebrate Sports Star Friday and even had the opportunity to meet some, with Olympic sprinter Montell Douglas, Paralympic footballer Alistair Patrick-Heselton and England rugby international Shaunagh Brown all in attendance. 'It's really important to make a stance and have a big celebration around all of this because if we don't then it just goes under the radar,' said Douglas, who now stars on the BBC's Gladiators as 'Fire'. 'The things that Torriano are doing around using PE and play and all the activities that I've seen them doing today is amazing and you can see how confident they are. 'Some of the games they're doing are quite competitive and they're building resilience and learning a new skill. It's really important because these are life skills and it creates a positive relationship with their bodies.' All three elite sports stars got stuck into proceedings and even participated in a Q&A with the pupils who were not shy to challenge them to a race. Torriano Primary School ensure sport and activity are embedded in their curriculum, encouraging children to wear active footwear as part of a no uniform policy to remove barriers to activity. 'The arts and sports are really, really important for children's well-being,' emphasised deputy head Rose O'Brien. 'Those life skills stay with them forever. Building those habits of fitness, training and loving doing this outdoors is so important. 'You might not know what sports you like but [it's important] the opportunities to try those sports are available to you in primary because when are you going to try them in secondary if you haven't built that skill already? '[School] is often where a love of sport starts, with the dream of going to the Olympics or playing for Arsenal, those are key things.' National School Sports Week is an annual campaign by the Youth Sport Trust, dedicated to celebrating the power of PE, sport, and play to build brighter futures. This year, powered by Sports Direct x Under Armour, marks the 30th anniversary of the Youth Sport Trust, who is a UK leading children's charity for improving young people's wellbeing through sport and play. Visit
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prime Minister announces new PE plan to mark National School Sports Week
By Laura Howard National School Sports Week culminated in a day of celebration for the Youth Sport Trust after the Prime Minister announced a new plan for PE and sport in schools on Thursday. Sir Keir Starmer outlined a commitment to ensure that every school will do two hours of PE and sport each week with equal access for girls and boys and equal opportunities for disabled week. Advertisement It comes in a week during which the Youth Sport Trust has had thousands of schools up and down the country focusing on getting children active and trying new ways to achieve those aims. 'It's been the most phenomenal week. We've been all across the UK as a team, visiting different schools that have been running different things,' reflected Ali Oliver OBE, Youth Sport Trust CEO. 'We have reached around half a million children. It's been because it's been a week where schools have shone a light on physical activity and the importance of playing sport. 'It's given us an opportunity to celebrate things. We've seen award ceremonies and standing here right now we're about to see a gymnastics performance. Advertisement 'But also, it's been an opportunity to experiment with things that enable the school day to always be active.' Oliver was attending Torriano Primary School in Camden on the final day of National School Sports Week to see young leaders from the pupil body coach their peers through a carousel of sports, ranging from gymnastics to archery. It is part of a push to ensure all children reach the Chief Medical Officer's guidance of 60 active minutes a day, with under half of the UK's children currently reaching that goal. Pupils also dressed up as their heroes to celebrate Sports Star Friday and even had the opportunity to meet some, with Olympic sprinter Montell Douglas, Paralympic footballer Alistair Patrick-Heselton and England rugby international Shaunagh Brown all in attendance. Advertisement 'It's really important to make a stance and have a big celebration around all of this because if we don't then it just goes under the radar,' said Douglas, who now stars on the BBC's Gladiators as 'Fire'. 'The things that Torriano are doing around using PE and play and all the activities that I've seen them doing today is amazing and you can see how confident they are. 'Some of the games they're doing are quite competitive and they're building resilience and learning a new skill. It's really important because these are life skills and it creates a positive relationship with their bodies.' All three elite sports stars got stuck into proceedings and even participated in a Q&A with the pupils who were not shy to challenge them to a race. Advertisement Torriano Primary School ensure sport and activity are embedded in their curriculum, encouraging children to wear active footwear as part of a no uniform policy to remove barriers to activity. 'The arts and sports are really, really important for children's well-being,' emphasised deputy head Rose O'Brien. 'Those life skills stay with them forever. Building those habits of fitness, training and loving doing this outdoors is so important. 'You might not know what sports you like but [it's important] the opportunities to try those sports are available to you in primary because when are you going to try them in secondary if you haven't built that skill already? Advertisement '[School] is often where a love of sport starts, with the dream of going to the Olympics or playing for Arsenal, those are key things.'
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Montell Douglas believes role models important to inspire children
By Laura Howard, Sportsbeat Olympic sprinter Montell Douglas believes role models can provide the impetus for children to give sports a go as she celebrated Sports Star Friday on the final day of the Youth Sport Trust's National School Sports Week. Douglas, who now stars on BBC's Gladiators as 'Fire', met students who had dressed up as in Gladiator t-shirts to emulate their hero at Torriano Primary School on Friday. Advertisement It formed part of the Youth Sport Trust's initiative to get children to meet their recommended 60 active minutes a day and create inspiration through role models, something Douglas believes can be transformative. 'Role model are the primary source of people's vicarious experience,' she said. 'Someone might look, speak, feel, dress like them. It's just really great for representation to be able to see. 'When you have someone you can look up to it gives you the spark to think maybe I can and that is enough. 'Trying and failing is fine, it's not trying that we don't want to happen, and role models really bring that home and encourage trying.' Advertisement Douglas who was a 100m British record holder and competed in bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics has since appeared in Strictly Come Dancing as well as the Gladiators reboot. She was on hand to provide inspiration for the pupils in Camden, alongside England rugby international Shaunagh Brown and Paralympic footballer Alistair Patrick-Heselton as the children also came dressed as a range of sporting icons. 'The whole aim of this day is to allow children to dress up as whoever their hero is in sport. It allows young people to think about their role models in sport, who are these great people that they can follow?' explained Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver OBE. 'A key part of Sports Star Friday is researching the journey of some of these athletes. Advertisement 'It helps young people realise that they don't grow up and just have some super gene that allows them to be extraordinary. They're actually people just like them with goals, with ambitions and that's really important. 'So, imagine World Book Day, Sports Star Friday is just like that but with sport.' It forms part of the Youth Sport Trust's wider campaign to get more children active, with less than half of children currently hitting the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation of 60 active minutes a day, a minimum for normal growth and development. At Torriano Primary School, Douglas and her elite sporting peers were privy to best practice in getting children active throughout the school day with pupils participating in a self-led carousel of sports ranging from archery to gymnastics. Advertisement 'It's so essential for children to be active,' added Oliver. 'There are 2.5 million children who do less than 30 minutes of activity a day. That will impact their health, how they feel, how they connect to their body, how they socialise with people and therefore how their brains develop. 'If we want children to thrive in life, we need physical activity.' National School Sports Week is an annual campaign by the Youth Sport Trust, dedicated to celebrating the power of PE, sport, and play to build brighter futures. This year, powered by Sports Direct x Under Armour, marks the 30th anniversary of the Youth Sport Trust, who is a UK leading children's charity for improving young people's wellbeing through sport and play. Visit
