New partnership uses sport and physical activity in colleges to promote sustainability and a healthy lifestyle

AoC Sport is pleased to announce a new partnership with Planet Earth Games to provide environmentally sustainable sport and physical activities and influence young people to lead a sustainable lifestyle. The partnership is part of a wider agreement with the Association of Colleges, which will explore a range of opportunities to promote sustainability and educate all further education students on how their actions affect the environment. Colleges across the country are already putting sustainability at the heart of decision-making in response to the climate emergency and this partnership will further strengthen and embed the response. A hybrid model of in-person and virtual physical activity events will be targeted to the FE sector over the next 12 months. The first initiative with AoC Sport will take place in January 2022 with a week-long series of online virtual challenges, designed to inspire students towards healthy lifestyles for their own wellbeing and support conservation of the natural environment. Colleges will be able to sign up to the challenges, get their students involved, be part of a leaderboard, and win prizes. Dean Hardman, AoC Director of Sport and Student Experience said: “This partnership with Planet Earth Games presents a fantastic opportunity to bring together the power of physical activity and young people’s concerns over climate change in a fun, accessible way. We look forward to working with Planet Earth Games to make positive and lasting changes to the lives of students. “We hope the challenges and future initiatives will empower the further education sector to play its part in inspiring students to address climate change in the long-term. This partnership is part of AoC Sport’s wider commitment to environmental sustainability.” Chris Broadbent, Founder, Planet Earth Games said: “We are delighted to team up with the Association of Colleges to bring Planet Earth Games to all students in UK further education. We passionately believe in the symbiotic relationship between your health and the health of our planet - if we are closely connected with nature, it is good for our wellbeing and the natural environment. “We look forward to developing the Planet Earth Games as both a virtual and in-person experience in collaboration with AoC, colleges and student participants. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead so together we can have the biggest impact on student health and wellbeing and make a tangible contribution to environmental sustainability. “We also believe that sustainability can be fun – it is enjoyable discovering and maintaining new eco-friendly habits. Planet Earth Games is about encouraging change, we don’t berate people, we are inclusive and accessible and believe everyone can make a positive difference.”