Cricket fun for youngsters at activity days
Hundreds of youngsters in Telford enjoyed the chance to play some cricket as part of a special Health and Wellbeing day organised by Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin.
Cricket Shropshire coaches Naomi Payne and Tim Bellett were on hand to help out at Telford Tennis Centre in Oakengates for a day of activity, laughter and learning.
This week, more than 190 Key Stage Two pupils from St Matthew’s School in Donnington were at the event led by Energize’s Active Lives Officer Jake Jones (left), part of an ongoing initiative funded through a Sport England Place Partnership.
The aim is to encourage sustainable physical activity within schools and the wider community.
Energize’s first event took place last week at Donnington Wood Juniors, where 220 children received expert coaching in cricket on their school field.
The event at the tennis centre saw Tim and Naomi (pictured below) lead 190 children in a series of energetic sessions. Across the day, eight different activities were offered in 20-minute rotations.
This included cricket, squash, basketball, boxing, Nerf challenges, T-shirt design workshops, and a healthy eating station—providing a balanced mix of physical activity and creative engagement.
One standout game, ‘Space Invaders (Robin Hood)’, focused on ball skills such as sending and receiving, with adaptations made for age and ability.
Another popular session was a fielding activity, teaching children how to run and throw while learning to stop a ball mid-air – again, tailored for different ability levels using varied ball sizes and adjusted running distances.
Children are encouraged to share their thoughts on the day, helping schools and clubs to plan future PE sessions, after-school activities, and youth club offerings based on what the children most enjoy.
Jake Jones said: “This event is about much more than just getting active for a day. It’s about sparking long-term interest and giving young people a voice in shaping the activities that are offered to them.”
With the success of these events and continued support from Sport England, Energize is set to keep inspiring local young people to lead healthier, more active lives.
Cricket Shropshire’s Vanessa Russell said: “It was great to see so many youngsters engaging in fun activities while at the same time learning new skills and enjoying their day.”
