YOUNG people and families in Leicester are being encouraged to get moving this summer with an online programme of fun activities to try at home.
A range of downloadable activity cards will give ideas for fun activities and games that people can try at home, their garden or while out on a walk or bike ride. There will also recipe ideas, posters and certificates that people can use to get inspired and reward their efforts.
It is part of the Get and Go campaign, which is now in its third year. The campaign aims to make exercise fun and accessible with a range of free or low-cost activities that anyone can take part in.
With the city’s Children’s Centre not able to offer their usual range of events and activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, the teams behind the campaign have produced a range of materials to get people inspired and active.
The campaign will run for six weeks and will feature a week of retro games in early August and a citywide playday at home on Wednesday 5 August, with a suggested timetable of activities including storytelling, a Teddy bears picnic and Leicester’s Great Duck Race.
Around 1,000 activity bags will also be distributed to families who don’t have access to the internet at home.
Deputy City Mayor Cllr Sarah Russell said: “The Get Up and Go campaign is a full of great ideas to keep families active over the summer. While this year the focus has had to shift away from our Children’s Centre, our fantastic early help teams have pulled together lots of fun ideas and activities that can be enjoyed at home, in the garden or out and about in parks and neighbourhoods.”
People are also being encouraged to share photographs and ideas on Facebook @LeicesterChildrensCentres using #GetUp&Go
Young people and families can also take part in Get Up & Show Your Talent, an online celebration of the skills and creativity of Leicester’s young people.
To take part, families need to create a short talent video – whether it’s dancing, sport, craft, magic, music or singing – and send it to childrencentres@leicester.gov.uk
If you want the video to be shared, a permission form will also need to be completed and retuned.
The best videos will be shown on the children’s centre’s Facebook page from Monday 17 August.
The Get Up and Go activities cards and related materials are available to view and download at families.leicester.gov.uk/GetUpandGo
The campaign has been put together by the city council’s public health and early help teams, Leicester Libraries and Choose How You Move.
Advice from Public Health England is that children aged between five and 18 should aim to do 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity – such as dancing, running or bike riding – everyday. Children should also aim to do muscle-strengthening activities – such as hopping and skipping – at least three times a week.