Winners of She Inspires
We are joining forces with Liverpool School Sports Partnership (LSSP) to champion the role of sport in improving young people’s wellbeing, safety and life chances.
The not-for-profit organisation, which has worked with schools in Liverpool for 25 years to enhance and develop sporting and wellbeing initiatives for children and young people, will lead a webinar being held as part of our Merseyside Schools Network focusing on ‘Sport as a Catalyst for Violence Prevention’.
Taking place on Thursday, 19 March between 4:00pm and 5:00pm, the webinar will help school leaders within the MVRP’s network to strengthen early intervention approaches and is being delivered by LSSP’s joint CEO, Jimmy McGinn.
Our Schools network brings together education professionals from across the region to share ideas, resources and approaches that can help create safe and supportive school environments. Its regular online sessions give schools the chance to hear from practitioners working in different areas of prevention.
During the webinar, Jimmy will share expertise on how participation in sport can encourage pro-social behaviours among young people, support positive decision making and reduce the likelihood of young people being drawn into harmful influences.
Jimmy will also share insights on how schools can promote sport as a positive alternative for young people that helps them to build confidence, develop resilience and feel a deeper sense of belonging within school and the wider community.
“I am delighted to be the guest speaker at Merseyside Schools Network’s webinar next month. Having been involved in martial arts for over 30 years, alongside 20 years’ experience managing sport and community development programmes, I have seen first-hand the positive impact sport can have on developing pro-social behaviours in our young people. From respect and integrity to determination and teamwork, when delivered correctly, sport can be a powerful outlet and provides a valuable opportunity for early intervention.
“It is fantastic to partner with the MVRP to deliver this important webinar, and I would like to thank the team for their support in ensuring more young people across the region can access the wide benefits sport and physical activity offers.”
Jimmy McGlinn, LSSP joint CEO
Alongside the webinar, LSSP is working with the MVRP to deliver its personal safety course, DADDR, into selected schools across Merseyside.
LSSP’s DADDR programme has been developed by its team of specialists and supports pupils in upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 to follow a framework for personal safety.
The two-week programme gives pupils, who inevitably gain greater independence as they approach their teenage years, the opportunity to learn and apply the DADDR concept – an acronym for detect, avoid, defuse, defend, report.
Through DADDR, children and young people gain a greater understanding of personal safety, situational awareness and emergency preparedness, ultimately ensuring they know what it means to keep themselves safe.
“It’s vital that we give young people the tools, confidence and opportunities to make positive choices. Sport is one of the most powerful ways to do that and we’ve seen many times on Merseyside how it can make a genuine difference to a young person’s future.
“So, it’s great that LSSP are supporting the next MVRP Schools Network meeting to support early intervention in our schools and help keep our young people safe, supported and thriving.”
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell
If work in a school or are an educational professional, attend this webinar by signing up to join our Merseyside Schools Network:
Merseyside Schools Network