Think Real programme wins award for positive curriculum impact

UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD) Think Real sports and wellbeing programme, developed in collaboration with the British Olympic Foundation (BOF), British Paralympic Association (BPA) and Sport England, was recently announced as the winner of the Teach Secondary Awards for Curriculum Impact.

Think Real, which also received a nomination for the EVCOM Film Awards (education and learning), aims to inspire young people aged 11-16 to explore nutrition, recovery, physical activity and gateway behaviours to drugs and doping.

Whether they see themselves as ‘sporty’ or not, Think Real resources are designed to help students take ownership of their own mental and physical health, supporting them in making informed decisions and developing long-term healthy habits.

UKAD’s Head of Education, Paul Moss said: “It’s great to be working with our partners on this programme for schools, helping young people have conversations about lifestyle choices and the impact these choices may have on their health and well-being.

“At UKAD, we believe the key messages involved in Think Real, especially around the health and moral risks of doping, and encouraging a natural, food-first approach to nutrition, can ensure children grow up to make intelligent, informed choices, and ultimately reduce the risk of doping in sport. We urge more schools to engage in this award-winning programme by utilising the free resources, to prepare future generations to be healthy and active.”

The programme has received positive feedback from teachers, saying the resources ‘capture real-life situations that young people find themselves in today’ and ‘the mix of active and visual learning from the resources engages all pupils’.

Executive Director at Sport England, Mike Diaper said: “It’s extremely important to give young people the confidence and knowledge they need to make their own choices about their health and the life-long benefits of being active. Sport England is delighted to be investing funding to help them achieve this, by creating a great resource not only for teachers and schools but also for sports clubs, parents and any organisation that works with young people.”

Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, Mike Sharrock said: “Educating and inspiring young people to help them develop and establish healthy, active lifestyles is central to Get Set and the Think Real programme, and an initiative which the British Paralympic Association is proud to be a part of.”

Chief Executive Officer for the British Olympic Foundation, Jan Paterson said: “From its inception, Get Set has looked to work with young people to help educate them through the power of sport. Health and well-being are a fundamental part of a young person’s life, now more so than ever before, and the thought-provoking Think Real campaign will help to support them in making informed choices in everyday life.”

The Think Real resources are all curriculum-linked and you can download all the content for free on Get Set’s website here.