Asda and Sports Leaders team up for Active Sports Leaders scheme

A new partnership between supermarket chain Asda and community sports organisation Sports Leaders UK aims to improve the health and employment prospects of young people, supporting 150,000 annually to get qualifications in sports leadership.

The initiative has already received the Inspired by 2012 brand, launched by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in April.

During the summer of 2013, the scheme will see more than 400 free sports days being organised in primary schools across the UK, designed to help inspire the next generation of children to get active.

Asda will be providing free healthy refreshments for all of the events and the Community Life Champions will be asked to support their local event on the day.

Linda Plowright, CEO of Sports Leaders and chair of The Compass Association (TCA), said: "Working with ASDA will help us deliver awards and qualifications that help young people gain skills for life, providing the opportunity to progress into further education and employment.

"This is an exciting time for Sports Leaders UK to help get young people, and their families' get active after the success of London 2012".

Sports Leaders UK is a founding member of TCA, a trade body that supports and promotes physical activity and sports providers working with schools and local communities.

Martin Gallagher, CEO of TCA, said: "The Sports Leaders and ASDA programme will be outstanding contribution to the leadership of young people and the recruitment of volunteers into sport.

"Sports Leaders is a pioneer of the developing, sustainable legacy programmes in both schools and community - and this new programme will serve many people well. As founding partners of TCA, Sports Leaders bring specialist knowledge and capacity in these areas."