North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald is preparing to join the Youth Sport Trust, schools, teachers, and parents across the UK to get behind a national campaign this summer.
National School Sports Week aims to address the fact that less than half of all young people in the UK (47%) are active for at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity each day, as recommended by the Chief Medical Officers’.
The campaign, which will see activities taking place across the United Kingdom from 19-25 June, is asking people to ‘play for fun, play for 60,’ to raise awareness of the recommendation that children and young people should be active for at least an hour each day.
Sir Oliver is supporting the campaign, led by the Youth Sport Trust, which comes at a time when children’s wellbeing is in decline, obesity levels are soaring, and with increasing cases of childhood type 2 diabetes.
Sir Oliver and the charity are asking people across North East Hertfordshire to Pledge to Play, committing to providing support and opportunities for children and young people so that they can be active for 60 minutes a day.
The campaign comes after research carried out by the charity found that almost half of all parents (48%) believe children aged 5-18 should only be active for 30 minutes or less every day. Worryingly, only 43% of parents know that children and young people should be active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Commenting, Sir Oliver said: “It’s incredibly important that we encourage children and young people to get active. Taking part in physical activity helps with physical and mental health, and can be a great way to make friends and develop new skills.
“I’m proud to support National School Sports Week. It’s a fantastic campaign that helps young people experience the benefits of PE, sport and play. I’m looking forward to working with schools and parents in North East Hertfordshire to empower young people to take part in physical activity and achieve their full potential.”
Alison Oliver MBE, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “We know children are leading increasingly sedentary lives. Screen time is up, and time spent in nature is down – it’s no surprise that parents and teachers are increasingly concerned about children’s physical activity levels and the consequence of this in the classroom.
“Children’s formative years can influence their wellbeing, development, education outcomes and physical activity levels well into adulthood. There is a compelling evidence base for more play and sport in children’s lives. A priority has to be raising public awareness of the Chief Medical Officer guidance alongside action to help schools and families respond.
“National School Sports Week is a great opportunity for us to engage with schools and families. We’re excited to share some brilliant ideas and guidance as well as uniting a movement of organisations to help amplify why this is important and what’s available at a local level. We are inviting the nation to #PledgeToPlay.”
The theme of the campaign this year is ‘Play for fun, play for 60’. The Pledge to Play supports the recommendation that children are active within school for 30 minutes a day, and then outside of school for at least another 30 minutes, supporting every child to reach the minimum amount of 60 active minutes.
Everyone who takes the Pledge to Play as part of National School Sports Week will receive free resources from the Youth Sport Trust to achieve their daily active minutes.
For more information and to join in to take part in this summer’s National School Sports Week go to: https://www.youthsporttrust.org/join-us/nssw