Pupils get active at Jordanstown School

Schools across Northern Ireland have registered for the ‘Buddy Scheme’ to support visiting teams during the WPFG 2013 in August, and many of them are also registered for Sport Northern Ireland’s Activ8 programme.

The programme encourages children and young people to do 60 minutes of physical activity every day and to eat a balanced diet.

The team set up a special adventure course in the school which gave the children the chance to tackle the climbing wall, run the cargo nets and cross the rope bridge.

Jordanstown School caters for young people who are partially sighted, blind or deaf.

Teacher Gareth Adams said: “Our pupils are full of energy and enthusiasm but their visual or hearing difficulties can often limit some of the sports they can get fully involved in outside of the school environment.

“Because they are fully harnessed on the Activ8 Adventure ropes course they are totally safe, while being able to enjoy the freedom and exhilaration of the sport.

“It’s a great way to make sport accessible to children regardless of their capabilities and most important of all, reminds everyone that sport is fun.”

In 2013 Activ8 Adventure will continue to visit schools and events as part of Sport Northern Ireland’s programme to increase participation in physical activity.

Activ8 has also teamed up with the World Police and Fire Games to bring young people the Activ8 60x60 Challenge, which encourages people to be more active.

For more information, or to register your interest in the scheme, log on to www.activ8ni.net