This summer we hosted four incredible School Games events that brought together pupils from schools across County Durham.
The events included the Opportunities for All Festival, American Sports Festival, Get Girls Active Festival, and the SEND Festival – each designed to offer unique and enriching experiences for the young people attending.
All events were designed following extensive youth voice consultation with local pupils in primary and secondary schools, carried out by our CYP team and County Durham’s six School Games Organisers (SGOs).
Opportunities for All Festival
Held at Durham University’s Sport and Wellbeing Park, our Opportunities for All Festival certainly lived up to its name, creating an inclusive environment where every pupil attending had the chance to participate in a variety of activities. With Paris 2024 just weeks away, the event was Olympic-themed and included sports that will be featured at the Games. Highlights included skateboarding, archery, boxing and golf.
One pupil remarked: “It’s the first time I’ve ever done skateboarding and I loved it!”
The event was a resounding success, with positive feedback from both pupils and teachers, and many pupils enjoying taking part in an activity they had never experienced before.
American Sports Festival
Our American Sports Festival introduced pupils to a selection of popular American sports, including basketball, baseball, American football, and soccer. A standout feature of this festival was the inclusion of Kinball, a unique sport that fosters teamwork among participants. Pupils and teachers alike praised the event for its engaging format and the exciting opportunity to explore activities that they wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity to try.
One teacher attending said: “Kinball is amazing and definitely something we want to train in to deliver ourselves back at school”.
Get Girls Active Festival
Aimed at addressing gender disparities in sport and physical activity participation, our Get Girls Active Festival featured a variety of activities designed specifically to appeal to girls who would not usually engage in curricular PE.
Following positive feedback from last year’s festival, Katie Bulmer-Cooke returned to deliver an inspirational workshop, whilst PEAK Sport delivered non-traditional activities such as Spacehopper Football, Quidditch and Dragonball.
Hosted at New Ferens Park in Belmont, girls attending also had access to the Infinite Air trampoline park which proved popular throughout the day. Many girls attending expressed newfound interest and confidence in sports and physical activity and finished the day by making a postcard pledge to themselves to be more active in the next 12 months. The event’s success has sparked plans for future initiatives to keep the momentum going and we are actively planning a further event in September with partners to kick off the new academic year.
The festival’s success is a testament to the commitment to tackling inequalities and promoting positive experiences within the School Games, ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to participate and thrive in sport and physical activity.
SEND Festival
Held at Durham University’s Sport and Wellbeing Park, our SEND Festival provided a unique and supportive environment for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities to engage in sport and physical activity. The festival featured adapted sports and activities, ensuring that every pupil attending could join in and enjoy the experience.
We also welcomed former Paralympic Champion Stephen Miller to the event as a VIP and he chatted with pupils as they made their way around the carousel of activities on offer.
This festival was a powerful example of how we can break down barriers and create positive experiences for all young people, a key part of our mission and vision as an Active Partnership.
One pupil attending said: “I absolutely loved the cycling; the karts were fun to drive”.
This event was jointly organised with Durham Trinity School & Sport College and could not have gone ahead without the support of Pete Ramsey (Director of Sport).
What Next?
The School Games Roadmap for 2024/25 has been released ahead of the next academic year and emphasises tackling inequalities, enhancing youth engagement, and promoting physical literacy. Each of the events hosted by County Durham Sport and SGOs next year will closely align with the roadmap, demonstrating our commitment to the School Games’ principles and ensuring that physical activity is a cornerstone of personal and social development for young people in County Durham.
If you would like more information on these events or think you could support us please get in touch with us using the details below.
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