It’s an exciting year for the Essex School Games, as the event coincided with the celebrations for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.
The games, which took place at the Basildon Sporting Village, saw over 633 pupils from 38 schools take part in a wide range of events and sporting activities, including Sports Hall Athletics Essex County Finals, Panathlon and a new, Commonwealth Games inspired activity carousel.
52.5% of children and young people in Essex, do not currently participate in the recommended amount of 60 minutes of physical activity per day. The Essex School Games enable all young people to enjoy physical activity, challenge themselves, compete and work with others, contributing in a positive way to their overall wellbeing.
Along with the Summer School Games, over 200 children from 16 Essex schools took part in the 6th Special School Games, hosted by the Multi-Schools Council in collaboration with Active Essex on the 22nd June 2022. The inclusive event is designed for students with special needs or disabilities who are encouraged to compete in a range of sports and activities, from Archery and Quad Athletics to New Age Kurling and Boccia.
Both events were supported by Essex All Together ambassadors and young leaders from New Rickstones Academy, The Deanes Secondary School, James Hornsby and William de Ferrers School. As well as helping to deliver some of the activities, the young leaders took part in a business social media workshop, to strengthen their understanding of career prospects within the sector.
Jason Fergus, Director of Active Essex commented; “It has been an absolute pleasure to see the students of Essex both competing at and supporting our Essex School Games – Inspired by Birmingham 2022. Co-designed by Active Essex, School Games Organisers and young people, and with the Commonwealth Games on the horizon, it’s events like these that help to inspire and provide new opportunities for children who don’t typically engage in competition.”
“As part of the systems strategy and Active Essex’s contribution to Fit for the Future, we want to ensure every child in Essex, Southend and Thurrock has the best start in life, whereby they are active, healthy and happy. These School Games events aim to champion and inspire inclusive and accessible activity.”
Cllr Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability added: “It was wonderful to again hold the Special School Games and Essex School Games – Inspired by Birmingham 2022 this summer, especially after a turbulent few years surrounding Covid-19, where we saw the negative impact on children’s activity levels and decrease in mental wellbeing. Physical activity is important for young people and a key part of curriculum, and with events like the School Games, they help to provide a wonderful opportunity and motivational experience, allowing all pupils to participate in physical activity and develop their physical literacy skills.”
The School Games are much more than pupils participating in physical activity. The events help to build young people’s life skills, including confidence, resilience, teamwork and creativity. The activities create healthy competition whereby pupils from across the county can form friendships and support one another, to improve mental wellbeing.
To read more about the School Games, visit https://www.activeessex.org/children-young-people/physical-activity-at-school/school-games/
To find the Commonwealth Resources, visit https://www.activeessex.org/children-young-people/commonwealth-games/
