ENGSO Youth’s Post

A change has to start some where Gregor Angus. There are so many contributing factors to the decline in sports participation across the country, local clubs and the lack of funding leading to less opportunities is part of. Also, what’s happening in schools, every child is in education so how can this help plug a gap if there aren’t opportunities in the wider community. Also what’s happening in our professional and amateur sporting organisations, how is the dropout at the intermediate or top level of sport impacting young people and are they staying active and involved. As a country, we have to look at all the stakeholders and see how we can all do better, streamline and use each other in a positive way, it doesn’t bode well for the future if it continues as is!!

'UEFA 2024 Euros – an opportunity to inspire a new generation to enjoy sport' - Children's Commissioner for England Participation in team sports is a powerful tool – it enables children to develop communication skills, create lasting friendships and build their confidence. Playing sport teaches children about setting and achieving goals, helping children to understand their emotions and redirect negative feelings in a positive way, building resilience and making them feel better about themselves. 2024 is a potential golden summer of sport with major sporting events including the Euros, the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, as well as the usual line up of UK-based events like Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix and The Open. It's an opportunity for a new generation of children to be inspired by the thrill of live sport and be part of the huge swell of national pride that accompanies a tournament like the Euros, which kicks off today. The Big Ambition confirmed children’s love for sport, particularly football – their responses were passionate, and it was clear just how much they valued the ability to be active and children appreciated the benefits sports brought to their daily lives.  However, it was clear from The Big Ambition that many children felt there weren’t enough spaces to be active and play football, children from as young as six spoke about wanting more football pitches to use.  While there is still some way to go to make football more equitable for all, it’s fantastic to see so many children that are passionate about being active. The benefits of physical activity are well documented with advantages for mental health. Know Ball Games? #LetsPlay!

Play is a right, not a privilege.   Today, on #WorldChildren’sDay, we’re reminded that sport and play are fundamental rights for children, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. But here in the UK, too many young people are being denied these rights – not because of lack of ambition, but because of systemic barriers like poverty, reduced access to facilities, and cuts to school budgets.   At Greenhouse Sports, we see firsthand what happens when children are given the chance to play. It’s not just about being active – it’s about so much more. Deliberate play, delivered by experts helps cognitive development, improves wellbeing, unlocks potential, and improves those vital skills required to succeed in life.   That’s why we’re standing with Sir Mo Farah, Youth Sport Trust and a coalition of British sporting icons calling on the Government for a new national plan to get kids moving: https://lnkd.in/efkqkayq Every child deserves a fair chance to succeed, and the opportunity to play is where it begins.

The Vital Role of Sports in Children's Development and Growth https://lnkd.in/eyB3eKbi

Today, on Children's Day, I'm reminded of the powerful role sports play in the development of young minds. From fostering teamwork to building resilience, the benefits are endless. In my work with organizations like the Ministry of National Education and Youth, Fédération Léo Lagrange, and Gimnasiarca gestión deportiva y formación SL, I've seen firsthand how sports initiatives can transform lives. Our projects, involving hundreds of children and young adults, have not only promoted inclusion but also instilled valuable life skills and healthier habits. Sports have a unique ability to inspire and empower. For me, sport-base work is incredibly important. With several years of experience promoting and fostering youth sports, I truly celebrate initiatives by the UEFA Foundation for Children and the International Olympic Committee – IOC. Their efforts to champion children's rights to play, grow, and thrive are invaluable!! Photo of one of the Agenda 2030: Sport et Santé in France, past May 💥 #ChildrensDay #SportForAll #YouthDevelopment #SportsInclusion #HealthyHabits #OlympicValues #GlobalImpact

Great article to illustrate how the independent education sector is levelling up gilrs sport. https://lnkd.in/eujBYU6Q Her Game Too This Girl Can WomenEd The Female Lead

Did You Know? Sports Can Change Lives! 🏀 ⚽ 🏃♀️ Research shows how sports can transform lives and communities: 🏋♀️ Regular physical activity improves youth outcomes—boosting physical health, mental well-being, and social skills. (Source: World Health Organization, 2020) 📊 Studies reveal that participating in sports positively impacts children's mental health and social development. (Source: Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2019) 🏃♂️ Children who engage in sports are more likely to maintain an active lifestyle as adults. (Source: The Lancet Public Health, 2022) At Kaizen Foundation, we're bringing this research to life: 🏝 Our Chalki Island sports field with Symplefsi gives the kids and their families a place to play and build teamwork. 🏀 The Antetokounmpo Academy with Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation empowers low-income youth through sports and education. ⚽ Our UEFA Foundation for Children partnership brings the joy of football to 10,000 children at UEFA EURO 2024. We've seen how sports foster community spirit and personal growth. By investing in sports, we're building stronger, healthier communities! How has sports impacted your life? Share your story below! 👇 #CommunitySports #YouthEmpowerment #KaizenFoundation #GlobalImpact

Empowering Young Girls: The Importance of Staying in Sport Sport plays a crucial role in everyday life for numerous reasons: 💡 Motivates kids to be active, improving off-field learnings & school results. 💡 Instills lifelong healthy habits. 💡 Enhances physical and mental health. 💡 Fosters a sense of inclusion and community. Despite these benefits, young Australian girls are dropping out of sports at alarming rates: ⚽ 43% of girls who considered themselves “sporty” drop out after primary school. ⚽ Nearly 48% of girls stopped playing sport to have more time to study, compared with 30% of boys. ⚽ Almost 31% of young girls dropped out due to bodily insecurity. ⚽ Almost 62% of Australian girls say their family rarely or never watches women’s sport. ⚽ Prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup (FWWC), 60% of Australian girls didn’t have a female sports star they looked up to. PitchUp is addressing these issues by making sports participation more accessible for women & girls. . Together, we can inspire the next generation of female athletes! 🌟 #SportsForAll #GirlsInSport #ActiveLife

Watching the Olympics has made me realise how badly the UK is failing children with sports facilities. We have councils trying to buy up all the green land and build unaffordable housing estates on them. This should be stopped. Instead of building things that cannot be used, our councils could be building skate and bmx parks. We can take those parks and build things like bouldering walls into the ramps of the skate parks to help children with motor skills difficulties. We can create outdoor facilities to improve coordination, facilities that parents don't have to pay for. We can take our tennis courts and make them free for use between school hours, full price between 3.30-7 and half price after 7pm. Free for children (excluding coaching sessions) on weekends and a cheaper price for parents accompanying them. Sport is expensive and with the cost of living constantly increasing, it becomes more and more unaffordable for parents, especially parents with children in real need of access to sporting facilities. The Olympics is promoting a wide variety of sports. We need to make them more accessible.

So well written and expressed. It seems that the politicians- of all parties and throughout the nations of the UK categorise sport as a spectator activity and not at all as one of the most significant participation aspects of civil society? So many of our European neighbours continue to support and develop community sport as a political priority- for health and wellbeing; for social cohesion and a sense of belonging; for fun; for informal learning. My abiding concern now is that our “sport systems” and “local policies” need so much repair and restoration . Could we develop “national frameworks “for community sport- which empower and enable communities for Sport for All? All meaning All?