Leisure centre staff across North Yorkshire are encouraging children and young people to get active and improve their health and well-being in the run-up to the summer months.
Statistics from Sport England at the end of 2023 showed that 3.5 million - 47 per cent - of children and young people are taking part in sport and physical activity for at least one hour each day, but there are 2.2 million youngsters that do fewer than 30 minutes.
To help boost those figures locally, staff at facilities in Knaresborough and Harrogate are offering new classes for six to 12-year-olds – and they are free throughout May.
Corporate director for community development, Nic Harne, said: “We have a wide range of programmes and activities for children in all our leisure centres as we foster increased participation which is not only good for their health and wellbeing but encourages social activities too.
“Those classes range from our learn to swim programmes and junior gym sessions to our new music classes in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
“We also have a range of local sports clubs that deliver variety of sports and fun sessions in our swimming pools and sports halls.”
The new ‘Born to Move’ classes are designed to nurture a life-long love of physical activity and help children experience the joy and vitality of moving to music. Each session feeds young people’s natural appetite for action, movement and play and lets them enjoy the energy, confidence, good health and increased ability that goes with it.
Course teacher, Zoe Murray, whose daughter seven-year-old, Tiana, attends said: “These are really great classes for getting young people into group exercise environment and feeling really comfortable with it at a young age. All the kids have a great time.”
There are classes for six to seven-year-olds and eight to 12-year-olds at Harrogate on Fridays from 5pm and Knaresborough on Saturdays from 10.30am. See more information about the courses.
Find out more about all leisure centre activities.
Brimhams Active operates the Harrogate and Knaresborough centres for us – both have recently reopened following extensive refurbishments. Harrogate reopened last September after a £13.5 million revamp, and Knaresborough’s new £17.5 million health and wellness centre officially opened in December.