HUNDREDS of primary school children across Darlington are set to get more active after the introduction of a new sports scheme.

Staff from 12 primary schools across the borough have completed the Energy Club Leader Award, meaning the schools will now be able to provide a regular Energy Club session as an extra-curricular activity for their pupils.

The sessions encourage children to get fit through fun activities, providing a legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games by tackling the increasingly sedentary lives of young children.

The scheme is run by Sports Leaders UK and supported by the Darlington School Sport Partnership (SSP) and Darlington Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Aly Raw of Darlington SSP said: “This is a fantastic new opportunity for many of our primary schools across Darlington to provide activities and healthy lifestyle guidance to targeted groups of children within their school.

“We have encouraged a wide range of staff within schools to take ownership of this project so it is not perceived by the children as another ‘sports club’.

“Energy Clubs are different - fun, exciting, engaging and very motivating for those who take part.”

Emily Burns of Sports Leaders UK, added: “We are very grateful to Darlington Clinical Commissioning Group for giving us this opportunity to embed Energy Clubs and Leadership, helping to increase children’s activity levels in Darlington.

“It also helps raise self-esteem and confidence in adult leaders, who lead fun games and raise activity levels and knowledge on healthy eating and lifestyles.”