Fitness instructor Mr Motivator has said he’s on a new mission to tackle youth inactivity and believes he has the perfect solution in the form of his BounceKids programme.
The lycra-clad legend, who brought fitness to the masses in the 90s with his energetic workout segments on GMTV, is back in the limelight with the launch of his new autobiography
The Warm Up and says he’s as passionate as ever about getting people to feel good about themselves.
The 63-year-old, whose real name is Derrick Evans, previously helped promote the government’s Change4Life initiative, but says the campaign tailed off because the government implement policy to maintain momentum and failed to secure cross-party support.
He says his BounceKids programme, which centres around mini trampolines and a broad range of exercise and educational sessions, could hold the key to making physical activity a daily habit in schools.
“Where we did some BounceKids trials in schools, it was incredible, kids wouldn’t come off these trampolines and they were sweating like crazy,” said Mr Motivator, who cites the
growing popularity of UK trampoline parks as an example of kids enthusiasm for bouncing.
“At one school in north west London we installed 30 bouncers and taught the deputy head how to take the bouncing classes. The kids had a great time and got more active, while the deputy head herself lost 17 pounds in just three weeks from bouncing.”
“It’s play – and play is the key to getting kids active – that’s where I think money should be good. but it’s got to be done in a way so that schools don’t foot the bill. Corporate sponsorship is something we’re looking at closely.”
Mr Motivator says BounceKids was initially hampered by supply and quality issues, but he has now found a steady supply chain and is seeking backers to help roll out BounceKids across the country.
Youth inactivity has regularly been in the spotlight in the last year,
with 1 in 5 English primary school children now classed as overweight or obese.
Research released from Essex University showed fitness levels among English schoolchildren are lower than ever and still getting worse, while ukactive also made major headlines recently with its
Generation Inactive report, which showed only half of seven-year-olds are meeting recommended physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes per day.
“Our focus has to be on youth to tackle this inactivity epidemic at its root and pave the way for future generations to be naturally active,” said Mr Motivator.
“Every single primary school should have a programme in place that makes exercise fun for pupils, starting the habit early so that when they get older they can make the right lifestyle decisions.”
