Wandsworth children race to the finish line after successful Ready, Set, Run programme

Delivered in partnership with Active Kids & Minds and Places Leisure, the school-based programme gave children across the borough the opportunity to take part in regular running and physical activity sessions designed to improve fitness, wellbeing and confidence.

The finale celebration brought together over 200 pupils, teachers, families and community partners, featuring 2k and 5k runs, obstacles, presentations and award ceremonies.

The programme has already shown significant impact on children's physical fitness across the borough. Participants completed more than 6,800 active minutes during the pilot, including over 3,500 minutes of running, while preliminary results showed an average 13.9% improvement in running performance.

One pupil who took part said: “At the start I didn’t think I could run very far, but now I feel much more confident and enjoy it. It’s been really fun doing it with my friends.”

Teachers also praised the impact the programme had on pupils both inside and outside the classroom. One teacher said: “We’ve seen a boost in confidence and teamwork among the children taking part.

“Some pupils who were previously reluctant to join in with sport are now encouraging others and getting involved.”

Councillor George Crivelli, Cabinet Member for Children said: “The energy and confidence shown by the children taking part in Ready, Set, Run has been fantastic.

“We hope this programme encourages children to continue leading active lifestyles, including making use of Wandsworth’s excellent local parks and outdoor spaces as part of their everyday routines.”

Kathleen Tullie, Active Kids & Minds CEO, said: “This progress made by the children over the past 12 weeks has been inspiring.

“We’ve seen young people grow in confidence, encourage one another and discover that being active can be both fun and empowering.

“We are proud to have partnered with Wandsworth Council on a programme that is already making a difference to children and families across the borough.”

The success of the pilot highlights the growing importance of accessible physical activity programmes in supporting children’s health, wellbeing and development, while also actively helping children explore opportunities with local community clubs so they can continue engaging in physical activity beyond the programme.