Over 1600 children from different schools across Essex came together to take part in the Active Essex Winter School Games.
The School Games initiative is part of Active Essex’s core programme to engage children and inspire them to lead active lifestyles. The Essex School Games aim to support the physical, mental, and social development of young people in Essex.
The games saw children from both primary and secondary schools take part in activities such as Boccia, Indoor Kurling, Football and Cross Country, with 5 of the events that took place were inclusive for those with disabilities.
One of the issues around sport and young people, is equal opportunities for girls and boys to choose sports they enjoy and not be pigeonholed into stereotypical physical activities. The ethos of the School Games aims to combat this.
First up on the calendar in November was the small school’s football which saw 110 children from 11 schools compete for the small school’s football title. Girl’s football followed the week after, which welcomed 130 girls from 13 school to the Chelmsford 3G pitch for the ultimate competition. To round off the series of footballing events in November, it was the boys turn with 130 pupils from 13 schools meeting to get involved with various games across the day.
The new year brought schools together to compete against each other in the Boccia event at Basildon Sporting Village. Boccia is the Paralympic equivalent of Bowls. The Panathlon Foundation that provide sporting opportunities for children with disabilities were also in attendance helping facilitate the event. The morning saw 64 primary school children from 16 schools and the afternoon hosted 44 secondary school students from 11 schools who all played against each other for their schools in the inclusive team event.
Basildon Sporting Village again showed their support for inclusive activity at the end of February as they hosted the New Age Kurling competition. New Age Kurling is a team sport adapted from the sport of curling to be fully inclusive for all young people. 126 students from 19 schools attend the event which was supported by young leaders from Epping’s New City College offering them leadership skills through volunteering efforts.
The Winter School Games season for 2022/23 ended as Spring began in March as 1200 primary school students gathered at Garon’s Park in Southend. Active Essex and their School Games Organisers helped facilitate the event, which saw children in year 3-6 take part in the different length courses as both individuals and teams. Some real talent was on show from every school as they competed for medals and the coveted X Country for their year.
Lee Monk – Children and Young People Strategic Lead said “Overall this year’s Winter School Games were a great success. It was brilliant to see so many children engaging in different types of sports that they wouldn’t normally be exposed to.”
One child shared their thoughts on the events saying, “It was really fun to get the chance to play something I had never done before, which I really enjoyed and want to do again.” Another added; “I enjoyed travelling with my school to play the games with my friends and play other schools in different activities. I think Boccia was my favourite and would like to play again.”
Here at Active Essex, we want to move the conversation on from misconceptions of what is and isn’t possible for disabled people in sport and shift out-of-date views on disability. The school games are a great way to help prevent negative perception around disability, ensuring inclusion in physical activity and sport.
