A programme of festivals providing opportunities for over 1200 school children from across Cumbria to take part in sports and physical activities has been announced.
Organised by Active Cumbria, part of Cumbria County Council’s Public Health Team, a total of five festivals which make up the Cumbria School Games will take place this academic year, including swimming, athletics, a County Panathlon event and, in the 2023 summer term, a multi-sport School Games County Festival.
The programme is an extension to the successful summer term School Games event held annually at the Sheepmount Athletics Stadium in Carlisle and provides inclusive opportunities for children and young people to participate in a fun and non-competitive way.
The focus of the events is very much in-line with the mission of the School Games which is to keep sport at the heart of schools in Cumbria providing young people with opportunities to achieve their personal best and support their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing through sport and physical activity.
Cumbria School Games Festival 2022/23 includes the following events:
November 3, 2022: Cumbria Primary Panathlon Discovery Swimming Gala at Kendal Leisure Centre for year groups 3-6
March 15, 2023: Sportshall Athletics – Social Me Transition Festival at Hoops in Barrow for year groups 6&7
March 16, 2023: Sportshall Athletics – Social Me Transition Festival at Lakes College Workington for year groups 6&7
May 24, 2023: Cumbria Primary & Secondary Panathlon Event at Penrith Leisure Centre for year groups 3-6 and key stages 3-5
June 29, 2023: County Multi-Sports at the Sheepmount Stadium in Carlisle. A full day of activities for year groups 3-8 including golf, orienteering, dodgeball, boccia, kurling and multi-sports.
In addition to the participants, 180 young people from across Cumbria will be trained in various roles to assist with leading and officiating at the events helping develop their skills and confidence in teamwork and leadership.
Active Cumbria Development Officer and Children Young People Lead (Education), Kirsty Williamson said “This new enhanced programme of Cumbria School Games festivals for the 2022/23 academic year is certainly quite ambitious. Our aim is to reach a wider audience of less active children and young people and those with special educational needs and we really hope the range of festival events will encourage new participants who perhaps haven’t had the chance to represent their school at a school games event before.”
Cumbria School Games are delivered in partnership with School Games Organisers, schools, clubs, national governing bodies of sport and local partners and are sponsored by The Cumberland and BBC Radio Cumbria.
Phillip Ward, Brand & PR Manger at The Cumberland, said: “We are proud to be longtime sponsors of the Cumbria School Games and it’s fantastic to see the enhanced programme in place this academic year. As an organisation, we are fully committed to supporting opportunities for children and young people. The mission of the School Games and the work of Active Cumbria in tackling inactivity in a positive and engaging way aligns so well with our ethos around health and wellbeing. Our aim is to ensure those we’re supporting and developing the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities, and attributes, which they need for mental, emotional, social, and physical wellbeing now and in the future.”
BBC Radio Cumbria will host the summer 2023 festival broadcasting live from the event to create a vibrant atmosphere celebrating the achievements of all the participants.
In support of Active Cumbria’s commitment to ‘Kick out Plastic in Sports’, a national campaign which aims to reduce the amount of single use plastics at major sports events, all children and young people attending the festivals will receive a reusable drinks bottle and water will be provided to top up regularly throughout the day. And where possible, event resources and supplies have been sourced sustainably.
Find out morewww.cumbriaschoolgames.org
