Young people living in the UK today face myriad challenges five years on from the Covid-19 pandemic. The charity Mind reported earlier this year that referrals to the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) had hit more than 507,700 by late 2023, an all-time high.
31st March 2025
There has also been NHS data showing that the cost-of-living crisis has disproportionately affected young people experiencing mental health issues.
Yet school sports, PE and physical activity offer a key, cost-effective solution in making our children and young people healthier and happier, tackling their physical, emotional and social challenges. Manchester University has researched this issue in collaboration with the Youth Sport Trust’s Growth Areas project, focusing on schools with low rates of participation in physical activity in areas with high levels of deprivation.
Sport England figures show that only some 50% of children complete the officially recommended daily hour of an hour of physical activity. Meanwhile, SEND groups, girls and those from less well-off backgrounds disproportionately don’t meet these guidelines.
More than two million children do less than half an hour of exercise a day. Yet it offers a raft of mental as well as physical benefits, including wellbeing, resilience and reduced social isolation. So researchers, who studied five very different schools for this project, have stressed its importance in education.
The study identified barriers to physical activity, including limited space or infrastructure, while several social factors, such as body image concerns among girls, also put some off working out. However, some schools have also developed their own innovative solutions.
The study also found that approaching half (43%) of pupils spent over four hours a day on their screens, with nearly a quarter (23%) involved in extended sedentary activities during the course of an average day. Meanwhile, a significant minority (7.2%) said they felt lonely often or all the time.
The research called for programmes of sport that stressed the fun and sociable aspects of physical activity to encourage students to lead healthier lifestyles.
Among the recommendations of the report were:
At Fresh Air Fitness, a leading supplier of outdoor gym equipment in schools UK-wide, we’ve long known the value of sport and physical activity in transforming the lives of our children and young people. So while this report highlights some important concerns, few of its findings came as a huge surprise to us.
But we hope research like the project from Manchester University will inspire more schools to reassess their sporting facilities. TH epositive impact of installing an outdoo rygm into a school cannot be underestimated. Not only will they raise the profile of PE across your school, but they provide free access to children to move more throughout the school day, during breaks, in PE classes and before and after school.
What's more, everyone can reap the benefits of an outdoor gym. They can be used by all abilities, from the sportiest to those who often shy away for traditional sports. We have inclusive products, allowing wheelchair users to access and benefit from the equipment too. Using outdoor gyms builds muscular strength, improves fitness, stamina, flexibility and balance. They increase confidence, positive body image and social interaction, and above all, they are fun to use!
We’ve designed, made and installed outdoor gyms into secondary and SEN schools and colleges since 2007, and outdoor fitness equipment in primary since 2013, . Our expert service incorporates site inspection, design, production, installation and after-care. Plus, we provide full, easy-to-understand instructions so everyone can get the most from using their gym.
What’s more, there are many funding streams available, in fact many schools have successfully installed a gym into their school 100% funded. For the latest funding streams visit our funding page and download our free funding guide, or call us today for further information 01483 608860.
Back to all blog postsFind out what the teachers and pupils at this junior school think of their Fresh Air Fitness outdoor gym
