'I'm proud that our region is helping to lead this work' - West Midlands Mayor heads to Sandwell primary school to champion new Government campaign tackling physical inactivity
A school in West Bromwich welcomed Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, and West Bromwich MP Sarah Coombes to promote a new Government campaign championing physical activity.
Families and schoolchildren at Ryders Green School in West Bromwich took part in the new ‘Let's Move!’ campaign, which has been designed to get families in areas of high inactivity into sport and physical activity this winter.
They were put through their paces as part of a local boxercise class, provided by Healthy Sandwell, experiencing first-hand how the campaign is helping families discover fun, accessible ways to stay active together.
The campaign is being piloted in Sandwell, Lancashire, Essex and Bradford – areas with higher inactivity levels and greater inequalities – to ensure support reaches those who need it most. According to 2023/24 Active Lives Survey data, 48.5% of Sandwell’s adult population are considered to be physically active (over 150 minutes of activity per week) and 37.6% considered inactive.
The campaign is backed by high-profile supporters including Joe Wicks (The Body Coach), Olympic gymnasts Max Whitlock MBE and Beth Tweddle MBE, and TV personalities Alex and Olivia Bowen, and already more than £400 million has been committed to build grassroots facilities in the places that need them most
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: "Let's Move! is a simple, fun campaign and to see it in action at Ryders Green School today and witness how much the children got out of the boxercise class was really great to see. The energy and enthusiasm from the families was fantastic.
"Right now, the government is doing a big push to help children get active, supporting the country in being able to use proper facilities and making sure access is available to sport across the country. I am determined that every child, whatever their circumstances, should have those opportunities to be happier, healthier and focus better at school."
Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker said: “Getting children moving is one of the simplest ways to give them a healthier and happier start in life. In Sandwell we're seeing the impact that inactivity has on families and we also see the difference that the right support can make. Today’s session showed that you don't need expensive kit or long workouts to build activity into your day. A few minutes of movement can lift confidence and creative healthy habits.
“I'm proud that our region is helping to lead this work. If we want every child to have the same chance to thrive then we must break down the barriers that stop too many from taking part. Let’s Move is a great example of that in action and I want to see more of it across the West Midlands.”
Sarah Coombes, MP for West Bromwich, said: “It's fantastic to see the Let's Move! campaign in action here at Ryders Green School. Families in West Bromwich deserve every opportunity to enjoy active, healthy lives. Breaking down the barriers that hold children back from sport is so important and I’m proud to support a campaign that meets people where they are and makes activity simple, affordable and accessible for every family in our community.”
