Pandemic’s effect on physical activity of Kent children

The number of children and young people in Kent meeting government guidelines for physical activity has fallen by more than 14,000 over the last year.

The latest results from Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey highlights the on-going impact Covid-19 has had on physical activity levels in Kent.

It shows that only 41.7% (103,200) of children and young people are meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of taking part in sport and physical activity for an average of 60 minutes or more every day. This is a 6.3% (14,500) decrease compared to the previous 12 months.

To help address this issue, Kent Sport (the Active Partnership for Kent and Medway) is promoting its 2021-2023 Children and Young People Plan, which aims to support groups of young people who are least likely to be active across the county. These include those from culturally diverse communities, financially deprived backgrounds, and children with long term health conditions and disabilities.

Kent Sport is also inviting clubs and organisations across the county to suggest ways to encourage more young people to get active, with support and/or funding from the fund.

Since the fund was set up in June 2021, Kent Sport has already assisted nearly 30 projects. Examples include:

· Delivery of multi-sport sessions for unaccompanied Afghan children who are currently being educated at the John Wallis Academy in Ashford.

· Supporting the Medway African and Caribbean Association with the delivery of dance and martial arts classes.

· Encouraging pupils from St Nicholas, a special educational needs school in Canterbury to get active through golf.

Anyone with a project idea can fill in this simple form at https://kentsport.org/make-sport-happen/funding-insight/great-ideas-for-children-and-young-people/

Liz Davidson, the Partnership Director at Kent Sport, said: “Despite the enormous efforts we have seen from teachers, parents, guardians and sport and physical activity providers, fewer children and young people are meeting the government guidelines for physical activity than last year.

“If positive attitudes and physical literacy levels don’t increase, there is a likelihood that the next generation will be less active, leading to poorer health and wellbeing outcomes.

“To address this, we remain committed to working with partners and those communities that need the most help to take part in sport and physical activity as part of the covid-19 recovery efforts and beyond.”

The Sport England data also shows that 34% (84,100) of Kent’s children and young people are physically inactive meaning they are doing less than an average of 30 minutes a day. This is a 6% (15,500) increase in the number of inactive children and young people compared to the previous 12 months.

The research also highlights the social inequality gap is getting bigger whilst the gender gap is getting smaller with boys now doing less. Overall, there is less enjoyment in being active and children and young people are less confident. Fitness and gym activity is on the up whilst team sports have dropped. Swimming has seen the biggest fall with 11.8% (850,000) fewer children and young people accessing swimming compared to the previous 12 months.

Positively, the results provide further evidence that active children have higher levels of mental wellbeing and demonstrate the role sport and physical activity can play in supporting them amid rising levels of loneliness and declining mental health during the pandemic.