Challenge to keep kids busy over holiday

THIS summer, children and young people across Bridgend county borough are being encouraged to undertake a new challenge with 21 things to try during the school holidays.

Organised by Bridgend’s Young Ambassadors, the 21 things to do in Summer 21 challenge involves all kinds of activities ranging from watching a sunrise or sunset and going on a long walk to dancing in the rain, trying a new recipe and writing a letter to someone to make them feel good.

The Young Ambassadors programme sees secondary school pupils working with Bridgend council’s Active Young People’s department to promote sport and physical activity to support their health and wellbeing.

Shannie Bowen, who has been a Young Ambassador for four years, helped put together the summer challenge with her seven fellow ambassadors.

Shannie said: “Each activity is inclusive and accessible to everyone with some of them including resources if needed like a YouTube link on how to practise origami.

“Because we’ve been in and out of lockdown, it’s been quite challenging not just physically for young people but also mentally.

“During lockdown we organised the ‘mile a day’ challenge, encouraging children and young people aged 3-18 to walk or run a mile every day and more than 1,200 signed up across the county borough which we were quite shocked by!

“It led us to thinking about a summer project that anyone could do while in their community over the six weeks holiday.

“If people message us on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages, we can then share their photos of the challenges for others to see.”

As part of the popular ‘mile a day’ challenge earlier this year, the young ambassadors managed to secure generous sponsorship from local design and print business KKSolutions.

Participants recorded their miles using free apps and were all entered into a prize draw with the chance to win an Apple watch or a bike.

The Young Ambassador programme in Wales is run in partnership between Sport Wales, Youth Sport Trust and the sport development team in each local authority. It is funded by the National Lottery.

For more details on the 21 things to do in Summer 21 challenge visit the council website or go to Bridgend Young Ambassadors – Make a Change Facebook Page, search for @Bridgend YA on Twitter or @bridgendya on Instagram where further resources will be posted.