The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy has encouraged all young people in Aberconwy to take part in local sporting opportunities.
This follows news from Sport Wales’s latest survey, showing that fewer than half of young people across North Wales take part in sport three times a week or more.
From March to July this year, Sport Wales conducted their School Sport Survey. With results released in October, the 2022 survey captures the views of over 116,000 young people, aged 7-16, from 1000 schools in Wales.
The survey gives an insight into participation levels, behaviours and attitudes of young people in relation to sport and physical activity. This year, the survey was also more important than ever as it provided invaluable information about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people’s activity habits.
In the North Wales area, figures showed that the number of surveyed pupils taking part in sport three times a week or more sat at just 39%, with 43% of boys and 36% of girls participating.
Speaking today on the survey results, Janet said:
“The latest School Sport Survey from Sports Wales shows the need to do more in promoting local sporting activities to young people.
“Exercise through sport is a vital part of pupils’ development. It has tremendous benefits, not just for physical health, but for mental health as well.
“Of course, the latest figures showing young peoples’ regular participation in sport below 50% are concerning. However, there is a clear path to improvement. The survey shows that 58% of pupils enjoy P.E. lessons ‘a lot’, and 47% say the same of community sport. Moreover, 52% said that they believed P.E. and sport would ‘help them have a healthy lifestyle’. Clearly, the appetite is there for more participation in local sport amongst our young people.
“I will be doing everything I can to encourage young people in Aberconwy to take part in local sporting activities, and pressing the Welsh Government to step up to the plate and make sure that sufficient funding is invested in grassroots sport”.
ENDS
