CIMSPA hits the heights to raise money and awareness for Youth Sport Trust
CIMSPA is organising a three-day event in June to raise £100,000 for the Youth Sport Trust.
At least 24 members of the CIMSPA team will climb the three highest peaks in the UK while symbolically carrying the weight of a child between the ages of 5 and 16, according to a CIMSPA statement.
The aim of the event is to draw attention to the growing issue of unequal access to sports and physical activity in the UK, which disproportionately affects children living in low-income areas and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Figures provided by CIMSPA show:
- One in seven children are obese by the time they start school, increasing to one in four by the time they reach secondary school (NHS 2021)
- 90% of children don’t achieve the recommended daily activity levels (Sport England)
- Black, Asian and minority ethnic children are least likely to be active (Sport England)
- 30% of children are living in poverty (DWP 2020)
The funds raised will go towards supporting programmes in up to 40 schools across the UK and benefitting up to 800 disadvantaged children.
Phill Wright, head of Insight and Business Transformation at CIMSPA, said: “In the 16 or so years I’ve worked in sport, my focus has been supporting adults. In the early days it was personal training, then running bootcamps followed by setting up a gym. Eventually I ended up at CIMSPA, working on data and insight...
“However, since being a parent I fight the daily battle of trying to encourage my two girls to make healthy choices for themselves, including getting involved in sport. I think many parents are in the same boat! I recognise the life-giving power that being healthy, active and finding a sport you love has on your life and the path you take. It gives confidence, a sense of belonging, builds resilience, is incredible for mental wellbeing and so much more, and that’s not even mentioning the physical benefits.”
- For more, visit CIMSPA’s website here.
