Active Humber recently attended the Get, Set, Grow event at The Pods, in Scunthorpe, working in partnership With Me in Mind and Get Ahead to deliver a transition event for Year 6 pupils at schools in North Lincolnshire.
With 7 schools attending throughout the day, it gives children the opportunity to meet new people in a community setting through team building and physical activity. They can also gain support from With Me in Mind who give advice and guidance about positive mental wellbeing, managing nerves and anxiety.
Althorpe and Keadby Primary School attended the event in the afternoon, and Lucy Gray, our Development Manager; Children and Young People, was able to chat with Laura, the SENCO and Senior Mental Health Lead. Laura explained how important events like these are for some children who are feeling very anxious about starting secondary school and she brought the children with her who would benefit from this the most. Laura also said how the event was brilliant as the children were able to mingle with other schools in a safe environment which would be a big challenge for some of her children, the familiar venue also helped as many of the children have been to The Pods before.
Get, Set, Grow was also hosted just before KS2 SAT's giving children some time to enjoy themselves before this challenging time in Year 6.
Lucy Gray shared: "It was fantastic to be a part of and I enjoyed chatting to students and teachers about how these opportunities really help to alleviate the anxiety and pressure and of starting secondary school, some also said it helped coming away from the school environment with KS2 SAT's happening in May.
"We discussed with students how self care is so important when feeling a little bit stressed and how having a range of tools available to us can help with this for example, a nature walk, fun with friends or colouring/painting."
The Youth Sport Trust states that 20.3% of children and young people in 2023 aged 8 - 16 have a probable mental health disorder and the most recent Sport England Active Lives data 24/25 for children and young people states that we continue to see a positive association between activity levels and mental wellbeing. At Active Humber we want to give those who need it the most and face the biggest inequalities access to events like Get, Set, Grow.
Lucy Gray our Development Manager for Children and Young People also says how important it is to have a range of tools ready for when life may become challenging, "Physical activity and movement is a key tool and finding an activity you enjoy as a young person is paramount."
