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A new free initiative is aiming to give an activity boost to the one in eight Jersey children that don't get enough exercise.
Jersey Sport's new 'School to Sport' scheme will introduce primary school children to different sports clubs within their local area and provide them with a year's free club membership at the end of the scheme.
According to Jersey Sport, 81% of children and young people in Jersey do not meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended guidelines of doing one hour of physical activity per day.
The scheme hopes to combat this by introducing more children to sport and encouraging them to get active.
24 children from Year 4 at Plat Douet School have been chosen to participate in the pilot phase.
Pictured: The scheme was launched by Jersey Sport as part of the Inspiring an Active Jersey Strategy.
Over the academic year, the pupils will try out a range of sports at clubs within walking distance of the school, starting with table tennis at the Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre at FB Fields.
Elliot Powell, Interim Children and Schools Manager at Jersey Sport, says the scheme is designed to "break down the barriers" to playing sport.
At the end of the year, the children interested in joining a sport they tried during the scheme will receive a year’s free membership to that sports club, along with the necessary sports equipment and kit.
Pictured: Jersey Sports hopes children will experience the ‘feel good factor’ and ‘positivity’ associated with playing sport.
“The feedback received so far from the children participating, their teachers and the table tennis association has all been very positive,” Elliot Powell said.
“We really hope we can secure additional funding to extend the scheme to help introduce more school children to the world of sport over the next few years.”
Phil Walker, Headteacher at Plat Douet School, says he is "thrilled" that some of their pupils are taking part in this pilot scheme.
“School to Sport is introducing our students to the experience of playing sport, which unfortunately is something they’ve not all had the chance to do,” he said.
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