We won an award for our Wii scheme

From the Worcester News, first published Tuesday 11th Dec 2007.

SCHOOLS across Worcestershire are celebrating scooping a national award at a glittering awards ceremony in Telford.

The Droitwich and Worcester City School Sport Partnership won a Youth Sport Trust national development award for its innovative programme, which uses a Nintendo Wii to improve attitude, behaviour and attendance in schools across the partnership. Schools used the console to reach students who would not normally take part in out-of-school clubs and often miss PE.

Mike Eglesfield, partnership development manager, said: "We're really pleased to have won this award, particularly due to the fact this project benefits disengaged young people. We took a risk with this project by trying something new. We're really pleased it worked out."

The members of staff from Droitwich and Worcester City School Sport Partnership were able to meet double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes and Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell along with Minister for Children, Schools and Families Kevin Brennan and Youth Sport Trust chief executive Steve Grainger who jointly presented the awards.

Minister for Children, Schools and Families Kevin Brennan said: "I'm really impressed by the quality of work taking place in schools to get young people to benefit from the power of sport. It's great to be able to pay testament to the teachers and co-ordinators who deliver the activity on the ground through awards such as these."

Dame Kelly Holmes added: "In my role as national school sport champion I'm privileged to go into schools and see the fantastic work taking place to engage young people in PE and school sport. So I'm delighted to reward the work of Droitwich and Worcester City School Sport Partnership whose efforts really benefit our young people."

The awards, which recognise and reward best practice and achievement in school sport and are one of the highlights of the 2007 School and Sport Partnerships' Conference at the Telford International Centre, organised by the Youth Sport Trust.

Steve Grainger, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: "School Sport Partnerships across the country are doing some ground-breaking work to increase participation levels amongst young people which is vital as we work towards our target of offering all young people five hours of sport a week. We're proud of the way Droitwich and Worcester City School Sport Partnership are engaging young people to do more sport."

School Sport Partnerships are groups of schools, including primary, secondary and special, which work together to develop PE and sport opportunities for all young people.

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