Sport Clutha has recently introduced a friendly new face to its team for its healthy active learning initiative.
Ginny Young lives in Owaka with her partner and two young children, and was previously a stay›at›home mother before she decided to get back into her passions of shaping young minds and improving wellbeing through healthy active learning.
The role has been introduced as a Ministry of Health initiative for primary schools across New Zealand and will run initially for three years.
‘‘What I love about the role so far is that it is needs›based. I can help cater to improvement with primary schools based on their needs.
‘‘Some schools ask for assistance with refresher programmes to reinforce positive physical activities, some want to better their children’s eating and drinking habits, and some ask for ways to get their senior pupils to lead the junior pupils in activities,’’ Ms Young said.
She takes care of eight primary schools throughout Clutha, including Balclutha Primary, Tokoiti Primary and Stirling Primary.
The role entails providing schools with programmes designed to further improve healthy active learning among pupils, and building on ‘‘quality play’’ both in and out of school.
Nationwide, the initiative is in its second phase, expanding from 300 to 800 schools across New Zealand.
‘‘It’s such a cool initiative, and I’m very excited to be a part of improving quality play in young kids around the district,’’ she said.
Ms Young said she was pleased to return to a local job close to Lawrence, where she grew up and has family.
She has previously worked as a youth worker and is qualified in secondary health and physical education, working with primary and intermediate schools.
She said Sport Clutha co› ordinator Craig Gordon was proving a great point of contact to become more familiar and known within the community.
Ms Young appreciated the flexibility of the job and how it ‘‘popped up at just the right time’’.
‘‘With having children of my own, they inspire me to want all young minds to weave healthy active learning into their lives, even if it’s just once or twice a week of activities.’’
She hopes to involve more schools with the new initiative in the next three years.
Ms Young loves exploring the Catlins in her free time and spending time with her family.
