<p>Throughout lockdowns&nbsp;we have saw an increase in children becoming more comfortable sitting with devices than embracing all things outdoors. We know the huge benefits outdoor learning and play has on their&nbsp;mental health and well-being and introducing this as early as possible is crucial.&nbsp;Following periods of lockdowns we found many of our children struggle to interact&nbsp;and socialise, through outdoor learning/play we have reaped the benefits of not only these barriers reducing but through this they are being shown how the outdoors is benefitting them&nbsp;physically as well as mentally,&nbsp;often giving teachers the opportunty to have informal chats around healthy eating and its importance to them as they grow.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following consultation with our young people, through the pupil focus group, they have asked if they could have some more resources for them to enjoy and learn outdoors with.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following this the parent council&nbsp;purchased some of the &quot;Operation Play Outdoors&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;den building packages. These have had such amazing feedback from all year groups, however in order to provide more outdoor resources we must&nbsp;provide somewhere safe to store future purchases.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%">Garnock Valley Sports Leaders are a group of pupils who train in upskilling ourselves to go out into local primaries and secondary to provide sporting opportunities in the local area. As a group we want to be able to provide young people in our community with quality equal opportunities to take part in sport. We believe that this can promote healthy mental and physical wellbeing among these young people. Through leading these extra curriculum clubs, it helps boost young people&rsquo;s overall physically activity to help meet the government&rsquo;s guidance of 60 minutes a day.&nbsp;It teaches the young people the benefits of physical activity as well as how it can improve mental wellbeing.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%">We also hope that in providing new sporting opportunies for young peole that they may be able to find one the enjoy or love. Through this we will be able to sign post to local clubs in the area to help add to a sense of community and spirit.</span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-cda303b8-7fff-e184-2682-eb99001fc16c">As a registered charity in Scotland the Youth Legacy Action Team&nbsp;strives to make our community a better place for young people. Representing, Helping, and Achieving our goals and encouraging and supporting other young people to do the same with their own. Helping the staff facilitating a space for youth to express themselves, and build on ideas and aspirations they want to accomplish. The Legacy centre runs 10 different groups across 6 days of the week and also has detached youth workers out 1 day a week.</b></p>

<p>We are an North Ayrshire based mental health charity that supports children and young people to rediscover hope and happiness through theraputic interventions. This Feburary we hosted a very successful &#39;self-care&#39; day&nbsp;for children and young people aged 11-26 in the North Coast Locality, with all activities designed to promote phycial and mental wellbeing. After such a great turn out and positive feeback, we are hoping to do the same again.&nbsp;The &#39;self-care sunday&#39; will be open to children and young people aged 11-26, and will be inclusive of the following activities to promote physical and mental wellbeing; therapy dogs, introduction to yoga and mindfulness, introduction to reki, havening session, art therapy, journalling and gratitude workshop.</p>

<p><strong>The link between exercise and mental health is complicated. Inactivity can be both a cause and a consequence of mental illness, for example. But there are lots of ways that exercise can benefit your mental health, such as:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>The levels of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, stress hormones and endorphins, change when you exercise.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Regular exercise can help you sleep better. And&nbsp;<a data-print-url="http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Mood-and-sleep" href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Mood-and-sleep">good sleep helps you manage your mood</a>.</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Exercise can improve your sense of control, coping ability and self-esteem. People who exercise regularly often report how good achieving a goal makes them feel.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Exercise can distract you from negative thoughts and provide opportunities to try new experiences.</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>It offers an opportunity to socialise and get social support if you exercise with others.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Exercise increases your energy levels.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Physical activity can be an outlet for your frustrations.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Exercise can reduce skeletal muscle tension, which helps you feel more relaxed.&nbsp;<br /> North Ayrshire ice hockey club creates a safe environment to children/ young adults to support the training needs, proving them with coaches to support ongoing training needs and a facility to do this safely.</strong></p> </li> </ul>

<p>We as young ambassadors at Ardrossan Academy would like to apply for funding towards our extra curricular clubs equipment. We have a variety of clubs going on within the school for all ages however the lack of equipment means we are limited to how many kids can take part and what sports they can be offered. Alot of&nbsp;the equipment is dated and in need of replacement. This new equipment would allow for more pupils to get involved in sport who do not get the opportunity out with of school. The cost of local clubs means some of our pupils don&#39;t get the chance to try different sports and the volunteers/teachers within the school who co-ordinate the clubs need some support with this equipment fund.&nbsp;</p>