The Department for Education (DfE) has announced funding for a new Youth Sport Trust programme that will teach life skills through PE.

‘My Personal Best’ will develop PE lessons and resources to build in young people the essential character traits that help them succeed and enhance employment prospects.

The programme, to be evaluated by Loughborough University, will be run in 25 secondary schools, train 150 teachers and reach 9,000 young people.

The resources developed will be made available to all schools and the Youth Sport Trust will contribute an additional £31,963 to the project.

The announcement was made by DfE as one of 14 projects that will receive funding through the £3.5 million character grants scheme. The grants are designed to expand initiatives that successfully improve the character of young people.

Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Department for Education has awarded the Youth Sport Trust this grant. This is a really important step for Physical Education within our secondary schools and acknowledges the subject’s ability to teach a range of life lessons and develop essential life skills which will help young people succeed in the future.”

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: “The £3.5 million character grants announced today will go towards producing a nation of resilient and confident young people. It will mean our children will be more ready than ever before to lead tomorrow’s Britain.”

Source: Youth Sport Trust