BLACKBURN - 6 March 2008 - 370 words
Olympic champion to visit St Bede's School, Blackburn
Olympic swimming medallist, Adam Whitehead, will meet students from St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn tomorrow morning - as part of a national initiative organised by the Youth Sport Trust in partnership with Sky to inspire young people through sport.
Adam will be taking part in a practical session with 25 pupils aged 12 to 15 years who have become local champions at Boccia a game similar to bowls or petanque. This Special Educational Needs group have become experts at this non-contact, target driven sport which relies on skill and subtlety, rather than size, strength or speed.
Adam is an Athlete Mentor, part of a team of sports champions who visit schools across the country as part of the Sky Living For Sport initiative, to help engage young people aged 11 to 16 with more areas of school life and to help them reach personal goals.
Now in its fifth year, the scheme has involved some 17,000 young people in over 600 schools across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Sky Living For Sport has brought on board a number of sporting heroes led by Olympic Gold Medallist and Sky Living For Sport Ambassador, Darren Campbell MBE, who act as positive role models for young people.
Sky Living For Sport gives young people the opportunity to try a range of sporting activities, from archery to martial arts, while working toward personal targets to improve their performance in school. Schools involved receive training for staff, resources for pupils, funding for activities and access to a prestigious awards programme.
Latest independent research , conducted by the Institute of Youth Sport at Loughborough University, shows that participating pupils show improved behaviour and increased self-confidence, and are overwhelmingly positive in their comments about the initiative. Almost all teachers thought that the Athlete Mentors had an influential and positive impact.
For more information please visit www.youthsporttrust.org
© Independent Catholic News 2008
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