New funetics partnerships with Home Countries

England Athletics is thrilled to announce an expansion of its highly successful funetics programme through exciting new partnerships with Scottish Athletics and Athletics Northern Ireland.  

This collaboration marks an exciting step in our collective commitment to fostering a lifelong love of movement and physical activity in children across the United Kingdom. By joining forces, we aim to extend the reach and impact of funetics, bringing its engaging and foundational approach to even more young people. 

funetics - a fun and inclusive kids’ athletics programme 

funetics is England Athletics' dynamic and engaging programme designed to introduce children to the fundamental movement skills of running, jumping, and throwing in a fun, safe, and inclusive environment. Based on the core principles of athletics, funetics helps children develop crucial physical skills, build confidence, and discover the joy of being active. The programme has already made a significant impact in England, and we are delighted to now be working with our counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland to broaden its horizons. 

Scotland

Scottish Athletics will be instrumental in delivering the funetics principles through their newly launched LETS GO! national 5-12 year old programme, using a dedicated network of passionate and highly trained club and community Activators. These Activators will be placed within key core cities, with a strong focus on engaging communities and reaching areas of greatest need. Their role will be multifaceted, encompassing the co-creation and delivery of dynamic community engagement initiatives.

These initiatives will be carefully designed around the fundamental run, jump, throw principles that underpin funetics, ensuring a playful and fun introduction to athletics for children under the age of 12. This grassroots approach will empower local communities to champion getting active and provide accessible opportunities for young people to get involved. 

Northern Ireland

Athletics Northern Ireland will play a pivotal role as a key delivery partner, working directly within primary schools across the region. This partnership will see funetics seamlessly integrated within and alongside the national curriculum, providing a valuable resource for educators and enriching the physical education landscape. This initiative is designed to promote physical activity, enhance the delivery of PE, and introduce the core skills of athletics to primary-aged children during their school day.

Furthermore, the partnership will explore opportunities to extend the reach of funetics beyond the school day, encouraging children to stay active and engaged in physical activity within their wider communities. This approach aims to embed a culture of movement and staying active from an early age. 

These partnerships represent a vision shared by England Athletics, Scottish Athletics, and Athletics Northern Ireland: to inspire and empower the next generation through the power of movement. By working collaboratively, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources to create a lasting impact on the physical and social well-being of children across Great Britain.  

We believe that funetics provides a fantastic foundation for a lifelong engagement with sport and physical activity, and we are excited to embark on this journey together.