A GAA player from Co Tyrone is on a mission to keep kids in his local area active.
David Mulgrew, who has represented Tyrone GAA at the highest level as well as local club Ardboe O'Donovan Rossa, set up Active Kids five years ago when he saw that many children in schools were often not interested in standard PE lessons.
Now David works with local primary schools to help introduce children to a variety of other sports and activities which help with their physical development.
He also works alongside the Southern Health and Social Care Trust to offer classes to those in foster care and children with disabilities.
“I noticed there were a lot of kids who weren’t getting involved in PE or sports because they didn’t enjoy it or want to do it,” David told MyTyrone.
“They weren’t interested in GAA or soccer or any sport even, so it got me thinking of a plan where kids of all interests could get involved.
“Active Kids is all about getting all kids physically active and creating activities that they can all get involved in and have fun while they are doing it.”
As well as working alongside schools, David also organises weekend classes and camps during holidays which prove popular.
He added: “This summer we worked with foster kids from the Southern Trust. We thought it might be a bit difficult, but the kids were brilliant and they really loved it.
“We also work with kids with disabilities as well, we have to change our sessions to adapt to that and how we communicate as well, but it is very rewarding work.
“Any advice I give to every parent is to get their kids involved in any sport or activity they can. It doesn’t matter whether that’s basketball, gymnastics, dancing or whatever.
“I’ve always been competitive and challenged myself and I loved PE myself, so when I saw in schools that so many kids didn’t want to do it I thought something wasn’t right.
“But every child is different and not the same as yourself, and that makes it all the more worthwhile when you see kids like that start to enjoy it in their own way.”
