A LOCAL functional fitness programme has won a prestigious industry award. The School Fitness Festival, a programme founded by Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire, in collaboration with The Academy Programme, British Weightlifting and British Functional Fitness, won the Young Person Impact Award at the School Games Impact Awards.

The programme invites children and young people across the two counties to an event where they learn the principles of functional fitness and weightlifting from professional coaches, with the lessons and core principles being taught back at school. Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire team members Kerrie O’Mahony and Jackie Latham collected the award at the ceremony, held in Telford on Tuesday, June 2.

Speaking of the award win, Kerrie O’Mahony, who is the Strategic Lead for Children and Young People at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: “I am so unbelievably proud of this programme and the team that have made it possible.

“Functional fitness and weightlifting as an alternative provision to physical activity for young people can be so powerful, and this award is the proof. “Something like this does not happen without co-design and collaboration, so to our partners that helped us on the journey to make the School Fitness Festival a reality – thank you.”

The School Fitness Festival was created in 2024 to commemorate the success of utilising Functional Fitness to engage students from underserved communities in physical activity. Working with its collaborative partners and driven by youth voice, the festival was a response to the evident interest in the sport, with four schools securing approval for Functional Fitness/Weightlifting equipment. Stephen Brewster, Chief Executive Officer at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: “This award is fantastic and really shows the efforts and dedication of our Children and Young People team and partners and brilliant example of collaboration.

“Setting a positive relationship with movement, physical activity and sport at a young age is so important. Habits formed early have a better chance of staying for life, and this recognition is a testament to the tireless work of a team that genuinely believes in the power of physical activity to transform futures."

Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire was established to be the strategic lead for Movement, Sport & Physical Activity across the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The scheme’s overarching vision is to create a healthier and more active two counties. As a not-for-profit organisation it is part of a network of Active Partnerships across England and it works with the eight local authorities, the two public health teams, Sport England, the University of Worcester, National Governing Bodies of Sports (NGBs) and other key organisations.

The purpose of the organisation is to create a healthier Herefordshire & Worcestershire by harnessing the power of physical activity, focussing on those populations that are the least engaged and would most benefit from regular opportunities.

To learn more about the School Fitness Festival, visit our website today: https://www.activehw.co.uk/school-fitness-festival.