The Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Ben Bradshaw, visited Launde Primary School in Oadby, Leicester to see the Sport Unlimited funded ‘Dancing on Mats’ project in action.

Sport Unlimited is an integral part of the Government’s five hour offer to enable every young person to have access to five hours of PE and sport each week. Sport Unlimited is targeted at youngsters who may have some interest in sport, but are not particularly engaged with community or club sport.

After watching a session with pupils from the school Ben Bradshaw said: “It is wonderful to see young people given the opportunity to be physically active and enjoying themselves at the same time, particularly for young people who do not enjoy traditional sport, it gives them the opportunity to be active”.

Asked about the Dance on mats one pupil taking part, Mr Bradshaw said “It’s brilliant and it’s a good way to keep fit.”

Launde Primary School Head teacher, Indejit Samdhu, added her praise for the project.

“It is a must for all schools, is highly enjoyable and at the same time keeping children active and fit.”

Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport will receive £1,379,192 over three years to deliver Sport Unlimited projects across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, with a target of retaining 22,230 young people in activity.

£864,434 of funding will be received from Sport England and £514,758 will be funded by local partners. Activities to date have ranged from skateboarding and canoeing to more traditional sports such as football and tennis.

In Year 3 of the programme, commencing in April 2010, there are plans in place for the delivery of 38 different sports including Dodgeball, Boccia, Martial Arts, Indoor Climbing and Olympic themed projects.

The Sport Unlimited ‘Dancing on Mats’ project has been a huge success and an exit survey revealed that 84% of participants wished to continue taking part in future. It is a dance and fitness project utilising the latest electronic equipment, comprising of ten weeks of activity, a weekly virtual/website league and face-to-face termly Championships. The project has been driven in partnership by OWLSARA, Jinz Ladies Health and Fitness Club and the School Sport Partnership. Andy Reed MP, Chair of Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport, said, “It is fantastic that young people are given a wide Variety of sports to enjoy. Dancing on mats is a great way of keeping physically fit and competitive in a safe environment.”

Suzanne Woods, Partmership Development Manager (PDM) for the Oadby and Wigston Partnership added:

“The Sport Unlimited Jinz ‘Dancing on Mats’ project has been one of the School Sport Partnership’s biggest and most successful initiatives to date. As well as providing a fun and exciting alternative physical activity opportunity for pupils of all ages, it has also resulted in an effective school club link and dynamic competition opportunity.

“Pupils in the School Sport Partnership have really enjoyed participating and working with the instructors from the local gym who are delivering the 10 week blocks and many are now continuing with the activity outside of the school clubs.”

For Further details on Sport Unlimited contact Lizzie Major on 01509 564871 email e.major@lboro.ac.uk or visit www.lrsport.org.uk.