Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Sport England recently launched their consensus statement on Physical literacy defining Physical Literacy as our relationship with movement and physical activity throughout our life. (Sport England, 2023)
The Centre for Child and Adolescent Physical Literacy aims to improve children’s and adolescents’ physical literacy to promote their happiness and health.
This is because today’s children and adolescents are unhappier and unhealthier than ever (e.g., Youth Sport Trust, 2023). This has been explained by low levels of sports participation, physical activity levels, movement competence and fitness, alongside increases in childhood obesity and ethical concerns for young athletes. There is a need for change!
The Centre will achieve this through working with stakeholders across multiple contexts (e.g. sport, PE, physical activity) whereby we use our research-practitioner expertise to co-create better experiences and opportunities for all children and adolescents and those who support them.
This free event will launch the new Centre. This launch event will include:
Georgina has been Head of Children and Young People at Sport England since 2019, most recently leading Sport England’s work to advocate for the importance of Physical Literacy. This includes supporting the development of the first ever Physical Literacy Consensus Statement for England. Previously, she led a £13.5million Secondary Teacher Training programme as well as Studio You, a digital platform for teachers powered by the This Girl Can campaign.
Georgina’s career began in the civil service, working in the Ministerial Private Office at the Department for Education, and then in several policy roles at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport covering policy areas such as heritage, welfare in sport and EU Exit.
Professor David Morley is currently the Carnegie Professor of Physical Education at Leeds Beckett University and Adjunct Professor of Sport Coaching at La Trobe University, Melbourne.
He has led national and global projects concerned with improving children’s health, wellbeing, physical activity, movement and physical literacy on behalf of national and international sport organisations. He has been responsible for designing and evaluating programs reaching thousands of children and young people, teachers and coaches.
He has also led on the creation of national strategies, such as ‘talent matters’ that was used to improve talent identification and development in schools PE. He has worked with numerous professional clubs and national governing bodies in youth talent development, appreciating an understanding of practitioner and player perspectives on systems and approaches. He is currently lead advisor for Nike and the Youth Sport Trust developing and evaluating a games-based, movement assessment intervention involving 25 million children across over 20 countries.
Professor Kevin Till is a Professor of Athletic Development within the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University. Kevin has published over 200 international scientific peer-review publications over the last decade related to children and adolescents in the fields of fitness, talent identification and development, sport science and coaching. Kevin’s research and applied work has led to policy and practice changes across sports and related organisations. He has a passion for improving the experiences of children and adolescents within sport and physical education. Kevin also works as a strength and conditioning coach at Leeds Rhinos RLFC within their academy programs.
