PR 297

For Immediate Release

7 December 2006

Great Yarmouth’s successful kiting programme, aimed at getting young people actively interested in sport, has generated massive interest at a recent conference.

Marten Payne, part of Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s sports and culture team recently attended the Schools’ Sports Partnership (SSP), in Telford.

In the Borough Marten has worked with Cliff Park SSP to spread the word about kiting under his project East Coast Kiting. Over two years nearly 5,000 people have tried out the sport.

“Residents of Great Yarmouth have a bad record for ill health, such as obesity and diabetes, caused by a sedentary lifestyle,” explained Community Sports Co-ordinator Marten.

“It has been argued that 18 to 35-year-olds might not outlive their parents. We know that many youngsters are not attracted to the kind of traditional sport they are taught at school - football being the exception.

“Kiting is a way of introducing them to participating in something new and different. We have found that more than 70 per cent of the people attracted to kiting do no other form of exercise.

“At the conference I explained how we worked with Cliff Park SSP to reach young people in schools, clubs and organisations dealing with criminal and anti-social behaviour problems.

“We have not only managed to increase participant’s exercise levels by 50 per cent, criminal and anti-social behaviour among the young people on the project can drop by 17 per cent.

“Other SSPs at the conference were interested in using East Coast Kiting’s partnership approach to introduce young people to the sport.

“Working with smaller kite clubs and a kite manufacturer, I have helped put together a website to help schools and clubs start up and operate – www.kitesportsinschools.org.uk.

“East Coast Kiting, now to be known as Active – X, is to extend its remit and offer young people in Great Yarmouth, Norwich and Lowestoft not only power kiting but a range of other sports including kayaking, power-boating, water-skiing, kite surfing and kite land boarding.

“We hope that when other SSPs take up kiting - they too will extend the range of activities on offer.”

For further information contact Community Sports Co-ordinator Marten Payne on 01493 852331 or 07766 205746.

Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513