National School Sport Week at Home: British Rowing backs campaign to ensure no child misses out

British Rowing is supporting the Youth Sport Trust and Sky Sports to help young people and families up and down the country engage in a week of virtual sporting challenges

With young people set to miss out on a school sports day this summer, the Youth Sport Trust’s annual National School Sport Week campaign is being opened up to parents and families and reinvented as National School Sport Week at Home.

The UK-wide campaign will give families, communities, schools and sports clubs the chance to capture the enjoyment, competition and camaraderie they have been missing out on during weeks of school closures and social distancing.

In previous years, National School Sport Week has seen thousands of schools join in a week-long celebration of school sport and Physical Education, and their important role enhancing young people’s well-being.

This year, Sky Sports has teamed up with the Youth Sport Trust to supercharge the campaign, helping to inspire families across the country to take part. This builds on a long-term relationship between the broadcaster and charity.

British Rowing CEO Andy Parkinson said: “We are delighted to support National School Sport Week at Home. School-age rowers are an integral part of the rowing family and school sport has a transformational impact on the lives of young people.

“With young people experiencing the negative impact of the lockdown, British Rowing is fully supportive of the Youth Sport Trust and all that they do to offer opportunities for all young people to enjoy their sport in these different times.”

Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver said: “The Youth Sport Trust is thrilled to see supporters like British Rowing backing National School Sport Week at Home to ensure no child misses out on their school sports day this summer.

School sport has a transformational impact on the lives of young people

“Right now, young people are missing their friends and missing the sense of connection they get through sport.

“Sport has such a crucial role to play in promoting young people’s well-being and this has never been more apparent than it is now. After weeks of isolation we hope that YST National School Sport Week at Home 2020 can help bring families, communities, schools and sports clubs back together.”

Anyone can register to take part and will receive videos and activity cards to help them plan a series of challenges across the week for their families, neighbours, friends or colleagues.

Find out more about National School Sport Week here.

British Rowing’s School-Age Rowing Strategy

If you’d like to read more about British Rowing’s involvement with school sport then you can find out about British Rowing’s School-Age Rowing Strategy (2019-2023) here.

The strategy has been informed by a comprehensive review of school-aged rowing undertaken in 2017 with the support of the Youth Sport Trust. The review explored the current landscape of school-age rowing, why young people and schools row, as well as key challenges and opportunities.

British Rowing’s mission is to work with existing and new school and community rowing clubs to deliver a high quality and enjoyable rowing experience for young people of all abilities and backgrounds, promoting lifelong involvement in the sport.