Active Mile Challenge Designed to Help Children and Families

The UK is about to go into it’s second national lockdown. If you have any recollection of the last (let’s be honest a lot of us and strived to forget it!) you’ll recall the mass disruption it caused both for the employed and those learning to eventually become employed - children. Families were tearing their hair out trying to think of new ways to entertain their kids whilst the majority of young ones were binge watching Harry Potter and eating popcorn. 

 

That being the case a fantastic new initiative has been designed. The Active Mile Challenge supports pupils to be active during the school day by providing regular opportunities for them to move around a marked route for a dedicated period.

 

This is being delivered by variety of resources - 

The  long term outcome is to encourage children to get out in the fresh air and connect learning with physical activity.

 

Naturally, children have an inquisitive mind so they will be able to carry out their own personal research on the local history and the culture of the place they live in as well as  interesting facts about different places in Lancashire which  can stimulate their imagination and inspire learning.

 

The great news is this is not exclusive to schools, children and families can do the suggested routes together too.

 

Active Lancashire have developed the Active Mile Challenge so that it can play a prominent role in schools. Children will be able to record their physical activity by means of a travel log that takes them around the Lancashire County. 

 

Schools can adapt and be  creative within the Active Mile. Space maybe limited in the school environment but getting them moving even if it’s just for a ten minute duration,  proves beneficial in the long term. 

 

Their exercise regime can vary from:-

Or perhaps a mix of all four disciplines that makes up 10 minutes of freedom, contributing to the recommended 60 minutes a day of being active for children.

 

Mark Stephenson, the Operations Manager at Active Lancashire expressed these words of joy in response to the new initiative,

 

“We are excited by the Lancashire Active Mile Challenge. We just want children to have fun, go wild for ten minutes and enjoy moving in the fresh air.  We want more schools to try the Active Mile Challenge to see all the benefits it can offer to children, teachers and schools.  It’s also great for children to find out more about the great things in Lancashire and being proud of the place they live in” 

 

School Games Organisers purchased the resources and distributed them among their local schools. Any school that has not received the resources yet but wants to participate in the challenge can purchase the sets by contacting Dominic Holroyd (dholroyd@activelancashire.org.uk) Each set costs £50.

 

200 + Primary Schools in Lancashire have received the Lancashire Active Mile resource pack encouraging schools and pupils to run, walk and skip a mile a day using these new resources.

 

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger