Northamptonshire Sport launches virtual sports classes in June to keep teenagers safe

Northamptonshire Sport it trialling a new virtual space for teenagers aged between 14 and 19 to spend time together 'in a structured way' next month.

Throughout June, the team will host free online boxing, calisthenics, dance, fitness and yoga classes as part of a community initiative to reduce violence and keep youngsters out of trouble.

Organisations who make up Active Northants will include Born to Perform Dance School, Namastella Yoga, Hale Training and The Compound and personal trainer Megan Robinson.

Northamptonshire Sport, part of the county council, have provided funding to deliver the sessions through a grant given to them by Sport England.

Megan said: “Though you will be working in a group and supporting and motivating each other, you will be working to your own ability and pace while also pushing yourself just outside your comfort zone.

"This will give you the perfect chance to grow mentally and physically. As a young school girl who grew up with the likes of social media dominating your self-esteem, I have been through the negative relationship with exercise and careless choice of diet and I know it feels to be self-conscious.

"So after completing my level 2 gym instructing course in 2017 and level 3 personal training course in 2018, I decided at some point that there must be something more to health than a good physique and a low fat score, right?

"So I changed my purpose of training to more about celebrating what my body can do and performing better rather than dwelling on what it can't do. By building good training and nutritional habits to make the most of what I have now, and maintain my body's condition into the future.”

Classes can be booked by registering here.Matthew Peleszok, of Northamptonshire Sport, added: “We are delighted to be working with five high quality partners to deliver these sessions.

"We have tried to match up what teenagers want, with when they want it to ensure we help provide the correct opportunities. Using local trainers allows us to turn the virtual into actual sessions once restrictions are further lifted.

"Using Sport England funding we have been able to provide a much needed opportunity for teenagers to be active in a safe place, if the sessions prove successful we look forward to continuing them throughout July.”