Who we are
The Young Hackney School and Youth Sports Unit delivers a variety of sport and physical activity programmes in schools, including weekly primary school competitions and sport leadership qualifications.
You can contact the Sports Unit by emailing YHSportsunit@hackney.gov.uk or calling 0208 356 7404.
Hackney Personal Bests
Personal Bests is Hackney's established sport and healthy lifestyles programme aimed at 9 to11 year olds. It encourages young people across the borough to achieve their personal best in a number of activities based on agility, balance and coordination - fundamental movement skills that underpin all sports. Personal Bests uses activities to enthuse and encourage individuals to try, take part and to improve. The inspirational message that accompanied the programme was ‘Be the best you can be’.
For more information about the programme and to get involved, email YHSportsunit@hackney.gov.uk.
The Daily Mile
Young Hackney and Public Health have formed a partnership to deliver the Daily Mile to primary schools/youth organisations across the borough for the 2022/23 academic year.
What is the Daily Mile?
The Daily Mile aims to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health, and wellbeing of children - regardless of age, ability or personal circumstances. It is a simple but effective concept, which any school can implement completely free of charge and without the need for staff training.
Its impact can be transformational - improving not only the children’s fitness, but also their attainment, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.
The Daily Mile is not sport or PE, but health and wellbeing through daily physical activity. Children are encouraged to jog or run outside for 15 minutes every day at a time of their teacher’s choosing. In this time, most children will average a mile or more distance - and so, The Daily Mile is born!
For more information about the Daily Mile in Hackney, email Aaron Flaherty.
Hackney Ark Sports Club
Young Hackney and Hackney Ark have formed a partnership to deliver sporting sessions for children aged 5-11 who are affected by physically limiting conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida. During the sessions, young people participate in physiotherapy based activities alongside a variety of fun, adapted sport activities.
Each session comprises two elements, with participants initially completing a 30 minute strength circuit, followed by an introduction to sport – with the priority focusing on developing agility, balance and coordination.
As a result of their involvement, it is hoped that every child’s strength and agility will improve over the sessions. This will assist in helping the children function more independently in life as well as increasing their social skills. Regularly changing sports has also enabled the development of different gross and fine motor skills.
For more information about the club, contact Darren Popham.
Young Hackney Eastway
Young Hackney has a new sports hub launching in 2022, based at 80z Eastway in Hackney Wick. It consists of a multi use games court, office, classroom, storage and an outdoor classroom space. We aim to work with school and community organisations to ensure there is a programme of activities on offer for young people throughout the week. Providing physical activity and a variety of sports, along with coaching & leadership development opportunities.
If you would like to know more or enquire about using the space, email YHSportsunit@hackney.gov.uk.
SEND offer - Inspire
Our SEND Youth offer is called 'Inspire.' We deliver several Inspire sessions a week, from outdoor adventure play to multi sports and fitness. These sessions are child-led, with a focus on developing social and communication skills, fun and enjoyment. The activities run throughout the year, in term time and during school holidays.
We also run a number of school competitions for SEND young people, including Panathlon, a competition where pupils get the opportunity to try new sports and compete against each other. The winner of the Hackney competition then goes on to represent Hackney at the London regional finals. We also support special schools by delivering specialist coaching programmes, leadership qualifications and offer young people the opportunity to participate in work experience with the unit.
For more information, please contact Darren Popham.