In a ground-breaking initiative, thousands of packs of sport and physical activity equipment were delivered to disadvantaged families.
Included in the packs were balls, skipping ropes, a hula hoop and activity cards, to enable those families to undertake some much-needed physical activity during the current Covid-19 restrictions.
With funding from Sport England, the packs will ensure that families who for whatever reason are unable to access online offers, do not miss out on any opportunities to undertake some sport and physical activity during the lockdown restrictions.
In welcoming the initiative HSP Partnership Director, John O’Callaghan said:
“There is growing evidence that the current pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on our most disadvantaged communities. The inequality gap has widened and without targeted and drastic action, we are in danger of never being able to bridge the deepening divisions faced by those communities.
We are delighted to be able to play our small part in helping to address such issues, as it is easy to forget that the computer screens, internet connections and access to private gardens, that many of us take for granted, are simply not available to a significant number of our residents. The current arrangements have shone a light on the digital and economic disadvantage faced by a growing number of families in the county.
Whilst this initiative will only make a small difference in countering that disadvantage, it will at least give families the wherewithal to undertake some physical activity and ideally, to do this as a family unit.
We are indebted to the fantastic support received from David Rock and his Team at Complete PE, who compiled the activity cards which feature innovative and enjoyable physical education and physical activity programmes; to the supplies unit for sourcing the equipment; and to Families First who undertook the distribution of the packs.”
The packs were targeted at families with children of primary school age and early feedback from recipients has been very positive.