Colchester United Football in the Community partner with The EFL Trust and Ferrero to deliver the Joy of Moving Programme for another year!
The Joy of Moving programme is a national school-based educational programme for KS2 students, run by community football clubs across the country. It aims to encourage physical activity, promote nutritional education and build awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and active lifestyle.
During the 2020-21 academic year Colchester United Football in the Community delivered Joy of Moving to 900+ children from 15 Primary Schools across North Essex, with the target of engaging more children and Primary Schools with this exciting initiative in the current academic year.
The programme lasts 6 weeks, where children will spend 30 minutes completing a practical session with the focus being around the participant’s physical activity. Sessions will be created and planned around physical fitness, motor coordination, cognitive functions and life skills. Children then spend 30 minutes in the classroom covering 6 different topics related to the body, nutrition, the importance of exercise and information about food groups, in line with the recommendations outlined in the Government’s Eatwell Guide.
Joy of Moving supports and enriches the Physical Education and PSHE National Curriculum for Primary Schools. Sam Beavis, Sport & Education Development Officer provided his thoughts on the value the programme has had on local Partner Schools; “ Joy of Moving provides children in North Essex with the opportunity to learn about a healthy lifestyle and the impact it has on them now and in the future, with the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating at the forefront of the message the programme delivers to young people.”
Charlii Bower, Class Teacher at John Bunyan Primary School, Braintree detailed the impact the Joy of Moving Programme has had on the classes that have taken part this term “The Joy of Moving programme is an engaging and exciting way of teaching children the importance of healthy lifestyles and exercise. It covers many of the Science and PE National Curriculum objectives about healthy and active lifestyles. Max our Col U Coach has inspired many children with lots of different games which they have all enjoyed participating in, both in the sessions and in their own playtimes. The games help to promote team work and is appropriate for children of all abilities.”
Emily, a pupil who has taken part in Joy of Moving this term at John Bunyan Primary School, Braintree shared “Max our coach is funny and makes Joy of Moving sessions interactive. We learn about our diets and how our diets can make us better. Now I realise that when I am running I need to drink lots of water and I know the signs of dehydration. The games Max teaches us are good because they are fun and I have learn lots of new games to play at playtimes and at home.”
You can get involved with Joy of Moving at home too, with family resources available to access the Joy of Moving Hub - https://www.joyofmovingresourcehub.co.uk/
For more information please visit - https://www.cu-fc.com/fitc/our-programmes/education/joy-of-moving/
Also look out for all things Joy of Moving on Social Media with the handle @JoyofMovingUK and hashtag #joyofmovinguk
Ferrero is supporting the project as part of its global Kinder+Sport initiative, which is designed to get children moving. As a pillar of the company’s CSR activity, it is completely separate from any promotional or branded initiatives and children will never see the brand name in schools, nor will they ever receive any product.
If your school wishes to get involved in this programme, please contact Sam Beavis – Sam.beavis@colchesterunited.net / 01206 755160