Pupils get active (From Free Press Series)

Pupils get active

TORFAEN primary school children are getting a fitness boost thanks to Coleg Gwent students.

As part of a special training award the older students have teamed up with Torfaen council's Dragon Sports initiative and Coleg Gwent's Usk campus to start a fitness fad with youngsters. The 20 students, who are studying for the National Diploma in Sport recently achieved their Dragon Sports Leaders Award, meaning they can now lead sports activities in schools.

The Coleg Gwent students will now each spend 10 hours with primary school pupils in Torfaen and Monmouthshire, which will help towards the work they have to complete to achieve their diploma qualifications. They received their training from Torfaen County Borough Council's Dragon Sports Co-ordinator Helena McDaid, and Nick Pritchard, Helena's counterpart at Monmouthshire County Council.

Sport tutor Helen Morgan, said: "The idea of Dragon Sports is to make sport fun, so our students really enjoyed their training. Dragon Sports is a lottery-funded initiative developed by the Sports Council for Wales and helps children aged between seven to 11 to access a broad range of sporting opportunities and get fit while having fun.

"Completing their Leaders Award means that they not only can complete the part of their course that involves working with children, but are also helping local school pupils to get fit and take an interest in sport," she added.

For more information on Sport courses at Coleg Gwent's Usk Campus, please contact Helen Morgan on 01495 333639.