The Activ8 Young Leaders Programme aims to provide active leadership skills to help young people motivate others within their schools to get and stay active; minimise ‘drop out’ from participation during ‘transition’ times by linking secondary schools with their primary feeder schools, local sports clubs and higher and further education providers; and increase the number of young people and adults in sports clubs.

This year over 100 students aged 16-18 from 11 schools across Northern Ireland have signed up to take part in Activ8 Young Leaders. 

Schools taking part in Activ8 Young Leaders 2012-13 are:

 Greater Belfast

• Laurelhill Community College, Lisburn;
• Little Flower’s Girls School, Belfast;
• St Patrick’s Academy, Belfast;
• St Patrick’s Bearnageeha, Belfast;
• St Malachy’s College, Belfast; and
• South East Regional College.

North West

• Oakgrove Integrated College, Derry.

Omagh

• Drumragh Integrated College, Omagh;
• Loreto Grammar School, Omagh;
• Omagh High School; and
• South West College, Omagh.

Each school has formed an ‘Activ8 team’ of 5–7 young people. The teams are tasked with developing and delivering an Activ8 development plan for their schools. In order to do this, the teams must consider the 8 key steps within the original Activ8 project and how these can increase participation in sport and/or physical activity within their schools, PE lessons, extra-curricular clubs, feeder primary schools, and community sports clubs.

Here is what some of this year’s participants said about taking part in Activ8 Young Leaders:

“It was fun, helped with fitness, and making friends, it created enthusiasm and a life-long participation – L.L.P”

“The Activ8 programme has helped us gain new skills which are important in all aspects of life. It has been worthwhile and really enjoyable”

“It was exciting creating a unique project and being in control of it the whole time”

Would your school be interested in participating in the Activ8 Young Leaders Programme in the 2013-14 school year, please email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for more information.