More than 200 children from schools in Leyton, Waltham Forest, came together for a fun-filled day of sports, teamwork and new experiences.
Pupils in years 3 and 4 from Willow Brook Primary and Riverley Primary schools took part in a multi-sports festival at Score Leisure Centre last month. They were supported by secondary school students from The Lammas School.
The event was organised by children’s sports charity SportInspired, with funding from Peabody Community Foundation and the L&Q Community Foundation, the charitable arms of not-for-profit housing associations Peabody and L&Q.
A day of sports and fun
From the moment the children arrived, the day was filled with energy and excitement. They were placed into teams and welcomed through a “team spirit tunnel”, cheered on by volunteers, “Young Leaders” from Llamas School, sport providers, and the SportInspired team.
Pupils rotated through activities including basketball, archery, taekwondo, four ball, boccia (a ball sport like bowls) and dancing – which proved to be a particular hit. It was a chance to try something new, get active and discover a sport they love.
One child in Year 4 said:
“I had the best day today! I tried archery and boccia and I never did them before. They were really fun. I also made new friends from other teams because we were cheering them on. I didn’t want the day to end.”
Another said:
“Today made me want to play more sports. The dancing was my favourite because we did funny moves and everyone was laughing. It made me feel happy.”
Lasting impact
Looking ahead, the schools will choose four of the sports to continue as four new “legacy clubs”, aiming to launch in Waltham Forest in September and run for 10 weeks.
The club, run by local sports providers with support from SportInspired, will give children the chance to stay active, try new skills and keep enjoying sport beyond the day itself.
Teamwork in action
On the day, coaches running the sessions were supported by volunteers and secondary school students taking part in the SportInspired “Young Leaders” programme. The 12-week scheme helps young people build confidence and skills in leadership, communication and teamwork, while learning to lead sports and support younger pupils.
One young leader said:
“The day has been super fun. I’ve been doing dance today and helping the younger kids that were a bit shyer to get stuck in. Honestly, I wish I had this in primary school.”
SportInspired help children and young people across the UK, using sport to build confidence and skills and improve physical and mental wellbeing, especially in areas with limited opportunities.
Volunteers from organisations including Peabody, L&Q, The Hill Group, Axis CLC, United Infrastructure, LMAC and Bank of England also helped out on the day.
Sahil Khan, Director of Community Strategy, Partnerships & Funding at Peabody said:
“It was brilliant to support a day that saw so many young people enjoying sports and getting active, trying something new and cheering each other on. Days like this can build confidence, spark new interests and bring people together. The children had a great time and we hope they’ll feel inspired to continue playing sports beyond today.”
Corrine Hutcheson, Head of L&Q Foundation South said:
“The festival highlighted the vital role partnerships play in delivering meaningful outcomes for our communities. Through our localised approach and strong collaboration with partners, L&Q Foundation brought together over 200 children, creating opportunities to improve physical and mental health while building confidence, teamwork and leadership skills. We are proud to be making a difference to the communities where we work.”
