PHYSICAL activity was on the agenda in Stourbridge as the acting minister for sport made a visit to the town.

David Evennett MP was welcomed to Greenfield Primary School and the Unit3Sixty skate park by the Black Country BeActive Partnership and Margot James, MP for Stourbridge.

In his first official event since taking the ministerial role, Mr Evennett saw demonstrations on how money is best being used to get people engaged in sport.

He got the chance to meet young people taking part in sports and coaching at Greenfield Primary School which was holding a ‘sporting heroes day’, and discussed with school staff the impact of the government’s PE and sport premium on coaching, health and competition for pupils and the training of staff.

Mr Evennett said: “It was fantastic to see the excellent work happening in the Black Country on both school and community sport.

“The government is committed to getting more young people active which is why we are investing £150 million a year in primary school sport.

“This funding is helping to make a real difference at schools like Greenfield.”

Peter Bravo, headteacher at Greenfield Primary School, said: “Our Greenfield children have really enjoyed welcoming David Evennett and Margot James to our ‘sporting heroes day’.

“David and Margot were so impressed with their skills in Brazilian football, netball, volleyball, rugby and outdoor practical maths.

“At Greenfield we are determined to offer opportunities, which not only give our children a rich and varied choice of sport and physical activity in school but also enable as many as possible to take part in regular out of hour’s activities.”

At Unit3Sixty, the 22,000 sq ft skate park facility in Mill Race Lane, the minister was presented with plans for using skateboard and line skating to work with young people with mental health issues.

Gavin Pardoe, owner, said: “Unit3sixty provides an outlet for children and young people to explore freestyle activities of skateboarding BMX riding and scootering in a safe and secure environment whilst maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and meeting new people.”

Mr Evennett added: “The brilliant Unit3Sixty facility also shows how important it is to offer non-traditional sports like skateboarding too, so that young people have a wide range of activities to choose from.”

During the visit to Unit3Sixty, the BeActive Partnership launched two Black Country projects aimed at encouraging people to get active; What’s Your Motivation and the Black Country Sector Skills Action Plan.

What’s Your Motivation project aims to understand the issues and solutions that motivate people to become active as participants and volunteers, while the Black Country Sector Skills Action Plan aims at getting more people taking part in sport through apprenticeships, enterprise advisors and employment brokerages.

Simon Hall, BeActive Partnership director, said: “Our aim is quite simply to get more people taking part in sport and physical activity.

“We are delighted to launch our new campaigns today which are focused on developing the future sport workforce as well as at encouraging people to tap into their motivations for taking part and becoming active.

“We are already making some real progress and to be able to demonstrate to the Minister for Sport the positive impact physical activity brings physically and for mental health as shown at Greenfield Primary and Unit3Sixty, as well as the prosperity of the Black Country, is fantastic.”

Margot James MP said: “I was delighted to welcome the Sports Minister to Stourbridge today on his first official visit.

“Greenfield Primary School does fantastic work promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging participation in sport. I was incredibly impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the school’s staff, not to mention all the children too.

“Unit3Sixty needs no introduction. It really is a world class facility. Gavin and Serena do an amazing job and it was great to see so many young people in action today.”

For more information about the BeActive Partnership and its two new projects, visit www.blackcountrybeactive.co.uk