Commonwealth gold medalist Steve Frew visits West Lothian school

Feb 11 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

STEVE FREW was top of the class this week after the Commonwealth gold medal-winning gymnast dropped in to visit pupils at St Anthony’s Primary School in Armadale.

Frew, who won gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, paid a visit to the West Lothian primary on Friday, Febuary 5, to support the school’s participation in the “Sky Sports Living for Sport” programme.

During the visit, a group of pupils spent time with Steve hearing about his own inspiring story of struggle and success through sport.

The pupils then had a chance to ask questions and discuss their own experiences with the Commonwealth hero.

Afterwards Steve and the students participated in a selection of indoor physical activities with some friendly competition.

Steve said: “It was a pleasure to meet the young people at St Anthony’s Primary School and hear about their involvement in Sky Sports Living for Sport.

“The project can help pupils in so many ways and they have already used it across a number of subjects. I hope that their experience with the scheme, and hearing my own story, will give them the encouragement to be the best they can be.”

Bridie Gibb, Principal Teacher at St Anthony’s Primary School added: “Steve Frew’s visit represents the culmination of many weeks hard work by this group of students, during which they have learnt numerous important skills.

“Most crucially though, they have seen how by pulling together, getting involved and being active, they can achieve something, feel good about themselves and get healthier in the process. Sky Sports Living for Sport has helped them fulfil their potential.”

Sky Sports Living for Sport is a free online tool that has been designed for young people, encourage them to take on different activities and learn new sports to help them reach their potential.

Frew is one of 17 sports personalities visiting schools around the country to share their experiences, inspiring and motivating young people of all levels of sporting ability.

By providing free online planning tools and sports kit, Sky Sports Living for Sport helps teachers to support young people in a variety of ways – by improving their attainment, their health, their self-esteem, or by pushing them to reach their full potential.

To date, 20,000 young people in over 600 schools have benefited since the programme began in 2003. The ambition of the project, which is supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, is for 2,000 schools and 30,000 young people to register with Sky Sports Living for Sport by 2012 and to build the activities into curricular and extracurricular activities.

Visit www.skysports.com/livingforsport.com for information.