Education Business

The end of this academic year marks the end of my first year as Ambassador for Sky Sports Living For Sport  – the initiative run by the Youth Sport Trust in partnership with Sky and it’s been an immensely satisfying time for me.  
    
The success of Sky Sports Living For Sport has been amazing – since its launch in 2003, over 17,000 young people, across some 600 schools in the UK have benefited. As a result of its growing success, it is now being extended to reach the widest possible audience. An online website is being launched in September, which will mean the initiative will be openly available to all secondary schools across the country, giving them access to the resources and support needed to deliver the project. With this exciting announcement, when I was asked to continue in my roll as Ambassador for a second year, of course I was thrilled to accept.

Using sport to inspire
Sky Sports Living For Sport targets young people aged 11 to 16, who are at risk of opting out of school life, whether through poor attendance or lack of confidence. The initiative uses the spirit of adventure, creativity and commitment that sport can generate to inspire young people and help them to improve their attitude and behaviour.
    
Over the last twelve months I have visited schools across the country to find out more about what the pupils have been doing and the impact being part of Sky Sports Living For Sport has had on their lives. I have met some fantastic young people along the way and come away from every visit feeling both proud and at the same time incredibly humbled.  
    
At one visit this year, I met with a group of boys who, through the work of the initiative, had been inspired to organise a 'La Liga' football tournament for all the pupils at school. With the support of their teaching staff they have done everything themselves – from coming up with the initial idea; designing a logo; organising the weekly fixtures lists, culminating in a hotly contested final. Their passion and sense of responsibility even gave them the confidence to stand up in front of the entire school to present an assembly to launch the tournament.  
    
It was a project that really fired them up and they have worked hard to deliver a competition, open to everyone in the school, that has lasted the entire term. It has been such a success that it is set to continue next year and they are thinking of ways to make it even bigger and better
    
Talking to the teachers afterwards, they told me how this group of students were some of the most unlikely to have ever had the confidence to stand up and talk publicly, but there they were, taking it seriously and really doing themselves proud. They are sentiments that are echoed at all the schools I have visited.

Improved behaviour
Another inspiring part of my visits has been talking to those teachers involved in the initiative. Hearing them describe the change in attitude, confidence and self belief seen in these pupils is fantastic, and learning that these changes aren’t just seen on the playing fields, but are being transferred into the classroom and general behaviour helps to instil my own beliefs in the initiative. They attribute these changes to Sky Sports Living for Sport and it shows just how much of a tangible effect it can have.
    
The latest research and statistics on Sky Sports Living For Sport, published in September 2007 and conducted by the Institute of Youth Sport at Loughborough University, shows that participating pupils show improved behaviour and increased self-confidence, and are overwhelmingly positive in their comments about the initiative. Over 80 per cent of teachers report that pupils have benefited from the project activities.
    
Another important aspect of the initiative is the visits that our team of athlete mentors make to the schools. I have spent a lot of time with these Athlete Mentors, listening to the work they do with their allotted schools, what they have learnt from their work and the development they have seen in the pupils over their visits. It is fantastic to hear how they have got just as much out of the initiative as the pupils they are working with.
    
From a personal point of view, it fascinates me to see just how much of an impact my life story has on these individuals and by having the opportunity to share it with these young people, I really hope that I have made an impact on those listening.

The power of sport
It often surprises even the most cynical of the Sky Sports Living For Sport pupils when I talk to them about the paths I have been down and the wrong turns I have taken along the way. They don't expect Olympic gold medallists to have faced challenges that they can relate to - and it never fails to make me smile when I watch the expression on their faces turn from 'whatever' to ‘wow’!
    
That for me is the power of sport and why I am so proud to be part of the initiative. The programme reaches out to those who have lost their way or have disengaged with education. It’s about giving them a sense of purpose, motivation and bringing value to their lives and that of others.
    
I can’t wait for next year’s visits to start – to meet with the new pupils benefiting from the initiative and I hope that my story and that of the Athlete Mentors continues to provide inspiration to these young people. Once again, we are reminded just how powerful sport can be and how wide-reaching the benefits are.

The Youth Sport Trust is a registered charity established in 1994 to build a brighter future for young people through sport. Its mission is to support the education and development of all young people through PE and sport.

For more information
Schools interested in joining Sky Sports Living For Sport are encouraged to contact the Youth Sport Trust at www.youthsporttrust.org for more information.
    
To find out more about Sky Sports Living For Sport, visit www.sky.com/lfs