The Sports Council for Wales today launches a campaign applauding the wider usage of school sport facilities.

Responding to the challenge of boosting the nation’s physical activity and fitness levels, against a backdrop of growing financial pressures, schools across Wales have taken action to open their doors to communities during evenings, weekends and holidays.

A key One Wales commitment, the Sports Council is actively engaging with local authorities to boost local provision of sport and physical activity for all.

This action is also welcomed as a measure to help fight back against the growing problem of obesity.

• The World Health Organisation estimates that there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults on the planet by 2015
• A woman’s average waist size in 1951 nipped in at 70cm (27.5 inches). A survey by SizeUK in 2004 reported that this had increased to 86cm (34 inches)
• The cost of treating obesity and its consequences has been estimated at between £990 million and £1.2 billion*

The Sports Council is keen to showcase those making a significant contribution and is able to advise other schools who wish to follow suit.

Porth County Community School in Rhondda Cynon Taf is a leading example. It is a hive of activity as a result of its ‘exciting, enriching and extending’ curricular programme, known as E3+. From Monday evening through to Saturday the school accommodates Cardiff City FC Academy training and swimming lessons for children as young as three. Basketball and cricket are also on the menu while Rhondda Paddlers hone their canoeing skills in the pool. And it’s a similar story during the holidays. Watch the video

Head teacher of Porth County Community School, Steve Bowden, said:

"We started to look at the Community School agenda and spent many hours thrashing out ideas with governors, parents and teachers. We are in contact with the local authority and other partners to make sure that there are always activities on offer and we make sure we don’t cut across other programmes within the community."

Huw Jones, Chief Executive of the Sports Council for Wales said:

"We know that maximizing school facilities might not be the solution for every local authority but where communities are in need of local facilities on their doorstep such as clubs with busy junior sections, it could be a massive help. This approach is helping people to play sport, get fit and it is also bringing communities together."

But of course, opening schools out of hours is not without a cost factor.

Bowden adds, "The biggest barriers to the scheme were identified as cost of transport and entry fees. Every time the school bid for funding, transport was always factored in to the costs – we were then able to lay on free buses. The closest leisure centres are three miles from the school in either direction up or down the valley so it is proving to be a useful facility which is right on our community’s doorstep."

Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones, who has responsibility for sport and physical activity, said:

"The Welsh Assembly Government wants to support the people of Wales to be more active because of the health, social and economic benefits that exercise provides. Opening school facilities to the wider community can be good way of providing convenient activity opportunities for people, because a school is often at the heart of the local community. This also links with my colleague Jane Hutt’s drive to encourage schools to keep their doors open for longer at the end of the school day."

Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh Secretary of British Medical Association, said:

"It's essential to get kids moving. The journey to and from school is the perfect place to start and opening up school playing fields will increase the safe areas where they can play out of school hours. In deprived areas, many parents are scared to let their children go outside because the roads are so busy, and in many communities there are the additional dangers of unsafe environments. This campaign is a step in the right direction."

Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, added:

"Children and young people often tell me that they’ve got nowhere to go and nothing to do. This often leads to groups of young people hanging around street corners; groups which other members of the community can feel intimidated by. But local facilities such as schools and community halls could prove to be part of the solution by providing children and young people somewhere to go and something to do. They can also play an integral part in creating inclusive communities and encouraging intergenerational work, which could yield more lasting positive change for children and young people.

"It’s encouraging to see effective partnership working in practice, especially in the current financial climate we find ourselves in. I hope other authorities from across Wales can use this latest campaign to identify better ways of coordinating efforts and utilising resources to best effect. Schools already do a fantastic job in our communities across Wales; sometimes I think we do not give them enough credit. We need to value their contribution and support their development."