Youth Sport Trust calls for 60 minutes of daily activity for every child

The Youth Sport Trust is calling for a new long-term, joined-up national plan guaranteeing every child access to 60 minutes a day of PE, sport and play by creating a nation of active and well schools. The call is the central pillar of the charity’s new manifesto, which it published on 17 January.

To achieve the 60-minute target, Youth Sport Trust wants the government to create a “nation of active and well schools”, underpinned by investment and supported by a campaign to raise awareness of recommended activity levels.

Outlining the plans for the new active schools network, the Youth Sport Trust said it wants to see:

• A dedicated coordination and delivery team working across a family of schools in every community

• The introduction of a new national wellbeing measurement for children, to track progress and target interventions• A drive to protect and increase spaces for play and physical activity in every locality, and provide co-curricular sport for all children

• Physical Education being “reimagined”, making it a core subject developing physically literate children, healthy learners and active citizens

• The formalisation of existing youth sport leadership opportunities into a national young sport volunteers programme delivering year-round social action.

The manifesto was developed with contributions from children and young people, teachers and school leaders, and representatives from youth, health and wellbeing, physical activity and sport organisations.

Ali Oliver, Youth Sport Trust CEO, said: “We’re calling on the next government to prioritise the transition to this model by starting in the most disadvantaged areas first, demonstrating the impact and generating learning to inform national implementation.