Outstanding Contribution to the Community
Sponsored by ClassforKids
Awarded to an early-years setting, primary, secondary, special school or organisation which has harnessed the power of PE, sport and play to develop interventions which bring people and communities together to build back healthier, happier and more resilient young people.
Winner - Kirkcaldy Sport and Leisure Alliance, Fife
The Kirkcaldy Sport and Leisure Alliance (KSLA) was created by the Fife Destinations and Wider Achievement Team to allow the four Kirkcaldy Secondary Schools to work collaboratively with organisations and localised partners to help students develop crucial life and employment skills.
Through the Youth Sport Trust’s engagement with the local Active Schools Team, they introduced the leadership programme, Set for Success to the KSLA. As a result, each of the four Kirkcaldy Schools were identified for the programme which is funded by the Wimbledon Foundation in partnership with Barclays. For the programme, the KSLA will be significantly supported by local partners such as Active Schools, Fife Sport Leisure Trust, Active Communities, Fife Golf Trust and other local clubs, as well as providing a focused accredited leadership pathway for all the learners involved.
The young people identified to take part in the ‘Set for Success’ programme will have the opportunity to take part in planned and relevant work experience and volunteering opportunities as a stepping stone for potential employment in the Sports and Leisure industry. These opportunities will be designed in collaboration with the KSLA to ensure that these are best suited to the needs and interests of the participants.
As part of the wider support Clackmannanshire Council are also hosting a Set for Success intern. The intern who will work three days a week on Set for Success and spend up to two days a week working on the organisation’s wider objectives, supporting children and young people to improve their health and wellbeing.
Highly Commended - Wright Robinson College, Manchester
Wright Robinson College (WRC) has created and implemented their own whole school wellbeing programme called My Mind My Body. The initiative was created with vision to educate and promote awareness on the positive impact of 'Keeping the Mind Right and the Body Strong.'
The programme originated in the college’s PE department who used physical education to highlight the importance of physical activity and the positive impact it can have on both mental and physical health. It became almost immediately apparent that the initiative had the potential for much wider impact, helping to support across the whole school.
My Mind My Body is now fully embedded within the college including their community programme. The community aspect of the programme uses the college’s ‘Let’s’ concept to promote activities and provide opportunities for the community to take part in physical activity to boost positive mental health. Three clubs have formed so far under the ‘Let’s concept:
Let’s Swim Saturday provides swimming sessions to all families in the Wright Robinson community every Saturday morning. The free one-hour sessions provide a fantastic opportunity for both students, parents and carers to be active whilst at the same time boosting positive mental health and wellbeing.
Let’s Play provides free physical activity sessions for the community. These sessions run alongside the college’s wellbeing weeks and provide two hours of free guided light physical activity such as badminton or table tennis with their families on site.
Let’s Adventure focusses on promoting the benefits of outdoor education and activities to boost positive mental wellbeing. The college used this week to explore how being outside and undertaking different activities can improve mental wellbeing.
The Let’s Community is proving very popular and is a huge success, with attendees giving some great feedback. The college are confident that the introduction of the free wellbeing sessions will further demonstrate their continued commitment to ensuring that physical and mental wellbeing is central to the college ethos.
Full list of shortlisted entries:
- Abbeyfield School, Chippenham, Wiltshire
- Kirkcaldy Sport and Leisure Alliance, Fife
- Sport Powys
- The Folkestone Academy and The Sport Trust, Kent
- Wright Robinson College, Manchester