Commenting on the announcement of the General Election, Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Sport Trust, Ali Oliver MBE said:

“The run-up to the General Election on July 4 provides an opportunity for all political parties to put the needs of children and young people front and centre of the policy debate. The next Government should take a proactive approach to tackling the wellbeing crisis facing children and young people, focussing particularly on the role of play and sport in fostering fun, friendship and life skills, getting children away from screens and enabling positive engagement in school.”

We know children who are physically active on a regular basis have better mental, physical and social wellbeing. Not only can increasing activity levels develop children who are happier, healthier and ready to learn, but in doing so we can help address challenges in education around persistent absence, attainment and behaviour whilst also providing opportunities to develop key skills for life including communication, teamwork and leadership.

Every child should have the opportunity to be active for 60 minutes a day, through PE, sport and play, as recommended by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers.  Earlier this year, our manifesto for action – developed with contributions from children and young people, teachers and school leaders, and representatives from youth, health and wellbeing, physical activity and sport organisation – set out how to deliver the systemic change needed to make this a reality.

Our manifesto called for a new, long-term joined-up national plan, guaranteeing every child access to 60 minutes a day of PE, sport and play. Underpinned by investment and supported by a campaign to raise awareness of recommended activity levels, this plan should:

• Develop a nationally coordinated school sport network made up of local delivery teams
• Introduce a new national wellbeing measurement for children, to track progress and target interventions
• Protect and increase spaces for play and physical activity in every locality, and provide co-curricular sport for all children
• Reimagine Physical Education, making it a core subject developing physically literate children, healthy learners and active citizens
• Formalise existing youth sport leadership opportunities into a national young sport volunteers programme delivering year-round social action.

Parents, teachers and children across the country are resolute in their belief that increasing opportunities to be physically active is vital for this and future generations. During this election campaign, political parties must rise to the challenge and set out how they will unlock the power of physical activity to put young people’s wellbeing first and build a brighter future for every child.