Young sports stars inspired at University event

Around 150 young athletes have been inspired to promote sport at an event held at the University of Wolverhampton.

The Young Sport Ambassador event offered 150 of the West Midlands’ best young sports leaders a chance to learn how to engage more people in physical activity.

The pupils were invited from schools around the area and were treated to educational workshops and practical sessions designed to help inspire and support ambassadors in their role.

Staff and students from the University of Wolverhampton’s Department of Sport and Physical Activity also provided a number of parallel sessions to showcase the University’s sport and physical activity courses and facilities, as well as introduce the ambassadors to the wider Faculty of Education, Health and Well-being provision.

The youngsters were also shown the stories of Youth Sport Trust Athlete Mentors, Daniel Caines & Gemma Collis.

Gemma Collis represented Great Britain in the 2012 Malchow Wheelchair Fencing World Cup, and, just ten months after taking up the sport, competed at the London 2012 Paralympics. Daniel Caines is one of Great Britain’s most successful runners over 400m,  having represented his country at two Olympic Games.

The event, which was held at the University’s Walsall campus on December 17, was organised by the University’s Department of Sport and Physical Activity in partnership with Kingsbury School Sports Partnership from Birmingham.

Dr Chris Sellars, Head of the University’s Department of Sport and Physical Activity, said, ‘We were delighted to host such an event, which showcased the best young sporting leadership from our region’s schools. The youngsters had an enjoyable and informative day.

“Sport and physical activity can play a massive part in enriching the quality of people’s lives, getting people socialising through sport and enhancing their health, and the future of sport lies in the hands of young people such as these young sport ambassadors.”

ENDS

For more information please contact Chris Jones in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736