Held at Sundorne Sports Village in Shrewsbury, the day brought together 375 pupils from 35 schools, alongside young leaders and school staff. A range of VIP guests and stakeholders from across the region also attended, including representatives from local authorities, education trusts, charities and community organisations, highlighting a shared commitment to improving health and wellbeing for young people.
Susan Vuli, general manager at Shire Services, said: “It was fantastic to be part of such an energetic and inspiring event. At Shire Services, we are passionate about helping children develop healthy habits for life, and events like this are a great way to show that nutritious food can be enjoyable, accessible and fun.
“Working alongside Energize STW allows us to bring together healthy eating and physical activity, supporting schools in creating a holistic approach to pupil wellbeing.”
And Jake Jones, programme officer for children and young people at Energize STW, added: “The School Games are all about giving young people positive experiences of sport and wellbeing, and it was brilliant to have Shire Services involved on the day.
“Their activities added another dimension, helping pupils think differently about food while they were being active, and supporting our shared aim of building healthier, more confident young people.”
Alongside the sporting activities, Shire Services engaged pupils through a series of fun, hands-on activities designed to promote healthier food choices. These included a ‘Guess the Hidden Vegetable’ challenge, demonstrating how vegetables can be incorporated into desserts in a fun and accessible way.
Pupils also took part in a ‘Guess the Number of Popcorn Kernels’ competition, with a fruit basket prize kindly donated by local supplier, Rowlands. They also enjoyed meeting Shire Services’ mascot, Sammy Sweetcorn, who joined in the activities and helped bring energy and enthusiasm to the event.
The event also provided an opportunity for Shire Services to connect with education leaders and showcase its wider offer, including school meals designed to meet School Food Standards, external hospitality and event catering, and training and compliance support for schools and organisations.
Funded by Sport England and delivered locally by Energize STW, the School Games is an inclusive, nationwide initiative promoting teamwork, confidence and wellbeing. It provides both competitive and non-competitive opportunities, creating a welcoming environment where all pupils can take part and enjoy being active, while helping to embed physical activity at the heart of school life.