Swim England backs National School Sport Week at Home

Swim England has joined the Youth Sport Trust and Sky Sports to help young people and families up and down the country engage in a week of virtual sporting challenges.

With young people set to miss out on a school sport day this summer, the Youth Sport Trust’s annual National School Sport Week campaign this year is being opened up to parents and families and reinvented as National School Sport Week at Home.

Taking place from 20 to 26 June, the UK-wide campaign will give families, communities, schools and sports clubs the chance to capture the enjoyment, competition and camaraderie they have been missing out on during weeks of school closures and social distancing.

Jane Nickerson, Swim England Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be supporting National School Sport Week at Home.

“Everyone has been missing their respective sports and are eager to get going again once it is safe to do so. Although people are separated at the moment, this campaign will help them to feel part of something.

“There is a great sense of togetherness within the aquatics community and across all sports. We look forward to celebrating the enjoyment that sport brings as part of this year’s National School Sport Week.”

Inspiring families across the country

In previous years, National School Sport Week has seen thousands of schools join in a week-long celebration of school sport and physical education, and their important role enhancing young people’s wellbeing.

This year, Sky Sports has teamed up with the Youth Sport Trust to supercharge the campaign, helping to inspire families across the country to take part. This builds on a long-term relationship between the broadcaster and charity.

Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive, Ali Oliver, said: “The Youth Sport Trust is thrilled to see supporters like Swim England backing National School Sport Week at Home to ensure no child misses out on their school sports day this summer.

“Right now, young people are missing their friends and missing the sense of connection they get through sport. Sport has such a crucial role to play in promoting young people’s wellbeing and this has never been more apparent than it is now.

“After weeks of isolation, we hope that YST National School Sport Week at Home 2020 can help bring families, communities, schools and sports clubs back together.”

Anyone can register to take part and will receive videos and activity cards to help them plan a series of challenges across the week for their families, neighbours, friends or colleagues.