For the foreseeable future the Trustees have set the following objectives which will be used when assessing any applications for our help.
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Ensure informal and formal physical activity sessions for children and young people (including play) are led by staff or volunteers who have achieved the relevant sector standards or qualifications for working with children. This includes the requirements for child protection, health and safety, equality and diversity.
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Ensure staff and volunteers have the skills (including interpersonal skills) to design, plan and deliver physical activity sessions (including active play sessions) that meet children and young people's different needs and abilities. Those leading activities should make them enjoyable. The leaders should also be inspiring. They should raise children and young people's aspirations about what they can participate in - and the level of ability they can achieve. In addition, leaders should help foster children and young people's personal development.
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Provide regular local programmes and other opportunities for children and young people to be physically active in a challenging environment where they feel safe (both indoors and outdoors).
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Identify local factors that may affect whether or not children and young people are physically active by regularly consulting with them, their parents and carers.
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Find out what type of physical activities children and young people enjoy, based on existing research or local consultation (for example, some might prefer non-competitive or single-gender activities). Actively involve them in planning the resulting physical activities.
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Remove locally identified barriers to participation, such as lack of privacy in changing facilities, inadequate lighting, poorly maintained facilities and lack of access for children and young people with a disability. Any dress policy should be practical, affordable and acceptable to participants without compromising their safety or restricting participation.
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Provide regular local programmes and other opportunities for children and young people to be physically active in a challenging environment where they feel safe (both indoors and outdoors). Ensure these programmes and opportunities are well-publicised.
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Ensure physical activity programmes are run by people with the relevant training or experience.
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Address any psychological, social and environmental barriers to physical activity. For example, provide opportunities in easily accessible community settings with appropriate changing facilities offering privacy. Any dress policy should be practical, affordable and acceptable to participants without compromising their safety or restricting participation.
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Consult with girls and young women to find out what type of physical activities they prefer. Actively involve them in the provision of a range of options in response. This may include formal and informal, competitive and non-competitive activities such as football, wheelchair basketball, dance, aerobics and the gym. Activities may be delivered in single and mixed- gender groups;
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Offer school-based physical activities, including extra-curricular ones. Provide advice on self-monitoring and individually tailored feedback and advice.
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Support participants of all abilities in a non-judgemental and inclusive way; Emphasise the opportunities for participation, enjoyment and personal development, rather than focusing on the evaluation of performance;
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Encourage those who initially choose not to participate to be involved with physical activities in other ways. Help them move gradually towards full participation;
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Encourage a dress code that minimises their concerns about body image. It should be practical, affordable and acceptable to them, without compromising their safety or restricting participation;
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Provide appropriate role models.
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In promoting physical activity, focus on the positive feedback from exercise including feeling happy, feeling relaxed and improved health.
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At least 30 minutes moderate intensity physical activity at least 5 times a week is required to sustain general health
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45-60 minutes per day may be needed by many people to prevent obesity
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At least 60 minutes per day of physical activity needed by children
