Wayne is a man with a plan

At a time of great uncertainty in the country, exercise has never been more important for the mental and physical wellbeing of people across the entire age spectrum.

As Marcus Rashford continues to drive his campaign forward to provide pupils with free school meals, Wayne Williams, founder of Inspire Sports Coaching, is also on a mission to get pupils across Tameside fitter and healthier.

Wayne, who spent eight years in the Royal Navy, before working for DW Sports and the Village Hotel Group, is aiming to help school children aged four to 12 rediscover their love for health and fitness after an unprecedented period in their lives.

Speaking to Reporter Sport, Wayne said his sessions, which include breakfast and after school clubs, as well as lunch time provision, could have a massive impact on the long-term mental and physcial wellbeing of youngsters in the borough.

Speaking to Reporter Sport, Wayne, who’s business took a major hit during the lockdown, said he hopes more schools will take advantage of what he can offer: “From April 2018-2019 we grew to 10 members of staff and eight different schools. 

“We offer everything from PE lessons, breakfast clubs, lunchtime sessions, and teacher training fitness sessions, but unfortunately Covid hit the company hard as schools and gyms closed. However, some schools allowed lessons for key worker children who had to come in. The gyms reopened from June, so I was back doing some personal training in them as well.

“During lockdown we kept busy with online videos, Facebook lives and zoom sessions.”

Wayne, who is currently coaching in Buckton Vale Primary School, Stalybridge, has got pupils involved in the Daily Mile Challenge - a national initiative that was developed to get pupils active following a long period away from school.

Wayne said the response has been fantastic so far. “I’ve found children are asking to do the running everyday, which was unexpected. 

“Some children have been badly affected mentally with Covid and are more shy than they were previously, so Inspire helps to reverse the effects of lockdown. 

“The children have realised that sport, especially the running, helps them to feel better.”