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Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust launches Get Active initiative
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s (WLCT) Active Coaching Team has unveiled a ‘Get Active’ schools file to help schools and PE teachers run activity sessions.
The Active Coaching Team was launched in the summer 2006 and consists of 13 professional coaches who work in schools and community venues to provide activities including multi-skills, netball, cricket, rugby league and disability sports in and out of school time.
More than 6,000 children have benefited from the scheme already.
The Get Active initiative is designed to help teachers continue the coaches’ work when they are not on site.
Jane Bent, schools sports development manager for WLCT, said: "We have been extremely pleased with the impact the team has had in local schools over the last six months or so.
“However we want to make our efforts sustainable so we have introduced training schemes for teachers, senior pupils and volunteers. We are now launching a new tool kit that will provide schools with the information and skills necessary to deliver these sessions in the long term."
Rob Burrows, senior community coach, said: "As well as helping to improve the skills and enjoyment of sport for young people the activities are also helping to fight obesity by keeping young people active.
“We also help to forge links between the schools and local clubs so that young people have a chance to continue their enjoyment outside of the school environment.
“Working closely with Wigan Council's Community Safety team, we have also found that there has been a significant decrease in anti-social behaviour in those areas where we have provided out of school time activities."
The 'Get Active' schools file will now be distributed to all the schools involved in the activity programme over the coming months.