‘Daily Mile’ to transform schools across the Southside

PRIMARY schools across Dún Laoghaire Rathdown are preparing to participate in a new health initiative, ‘The Daily Mile’ to improve the physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing of their children.

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership, HSE Health Promotion and the Blackrock Education Centre have invited schools to get involved in this profoundly simple but effective concept, which any primary school can implement.

Organisers say its impact can be transformational, through improving not only the children’s’ fitness, but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.

In 2012 Elaine Wyllie, headteacher of a large Scottish primary school, realised that her pupils, like many others, were unfit.

She introduced the concept of every class doing 15 minutes of a walk, jog or run daily and found the results hugely beneficial.

‘The Daily Mile’ initiative was born and now has become so popular that hundreds of schools in the UK participate in the programme while it is also popular in countries such as Belgium, Holland, the US and now Ireland.

An impressive 23 shools have since come on board and they  recently met to learn more about the initiative, find out what might work best for their schools and also officially launch ‘The Daily Mile’ in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown

The Daily Mile is successful because it is simple and free. It’s fully inclusive, as every child succeeds, whatever their circumstances, age or ability.

Shane McArdle, Coordinator with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership stated: “We are delighted that so many local schools are taking part in this brilliant initiative.

“The Daily Mile is a great example of how something so simple can be so effective.”

Caroline Mahon, Schools Health Promotion Officer at Blackrock Education Centre , added: “With schools ideally placed to promote physical activity, The Daily Mile provides a simple and effective way of embedding activity into the every day.

“It has lots of benefits such as improving concentration levels, peer and teacher relationships and building self-esteem. It also helps schools reach broader goals with such initiatives as the Active Schools Flag or Health Promoting School Initiative/”

Expressions of interest by in The Daily Mile can be lodged by contacting Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership on 01-2719502 or by email to [email protected]