Movement Motivators resource pack was derived from the NHS resource ‘Raising the Issue’ and created in partnership by Active Schools Glasgow City Council - Education PEPASS Team, Glasgow Life and NHS Scotland to support addressing the issues of inactivity, raise awareness of interventions and empower young people as peer influencers.
Movement Motivators training equips students with the ability and confidence to influence the activity choices of pupils and contributes towards environments where physical activity and sport are an intrinsic part of each school.
The resource links directly with the SQA Wellbeing Award (SCQF 3-5) and supports Sports Leader UK courses delivered by staff nationwide as well as Physical Education and community engagement.
How was the programme developed?
The ‘Movement Motivators’ course began with a discussion of “But why?” “Why should we (Sports Leaders / Young Ambassadors) encourage pupils in our school to be active? Everybody knows it’s good for you, so they should just do it! I don’t get why they don’t.”
The “But why” built into the “But how?”. How do we help pupils in our school to be more active? How do I have a conversation with a pupil about coming to our clubs? What words do I use; how do I listen to fully understand this pupil’s situation?
The combination of the “But why?” and “But how?” led to the creation of Movement Motivators workshops where we explore what influences pupils in making activity choices, the reasons for which can be often school and community specific.
A key part of the resource is a thorough understanding of the mental health benefits along with building knowledge of the right way (when, how) to have a physical activity / health behaviour change conversation.
How is it delivered?
The five learning outcomes are delivered within Sports Leaders timetables, either curricular or extracurricular. Students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to act as peer mentors in influencing pupil activity choices. The content can be delivered within a gym hall or a classroom although having the space for practical activities is ideal.
A key part of the resource is a thorough understanding of the mental health benefits as well as building knowledge of the right way (when, how) to have a physical activity / health behaviour change conversation.
Tracey McBride, Glasgow Active Schools coordinator, said “Movement Motivators has been on quite the development journey since it’s inception! We viewed the content to be a missing link in the education of our Sports Leaders / Young Ambassador’s and as such it required much tweaking over a series of deliveries.
During workshops it is a joy to see the engagement of young people in discussions around their own health. The buzz in the room during each course reinforces my belief that this is an essential part of their education as young coaches / leaders. Much of this is down to the highly interactive delivery where conversations are steered by the experiences of the students leading to the creation of school specific plans and interventions.
In Glasgow we now have a team of 10 Active Schools Coordinators trained to deliver Movement Motivators thus reaching more Sports Leader / Young Ambassadors across the city. I’m looking forward to a full year of training in 2025-26."
