Children across Conwy are being given more opportunities to get active during the school day through a new partnership between Ffit Conwy and Les Mills.

The council's leisure team is introducing the Born to Move programme to primary schools across the county. It uses music, dance, creativity, martial arts-inspired activities, mindfulness and age-appropriate exercise to encourage children to enjoy being active.

Schools can use the sessions during PE, classroom breaks, wellbeing activities, lunchtimes and after-school clubs.

The initiative comes as Wales continues to face challenges in getting children and young people active. Sport Wales' latest School Sport Survey found that just 39% of pupils took part in organised sport outside the curriculum three or more times a week, down from 48% in 2018. There was also a significant gap between children in the least and most deprived areas.

Importantly, the survey found that 93% of pupils wanted to do more sport, suggesting that lack of interest isn't necessarily the main barrier. More suitable opportunities, lack of time, confidence, cost and getting to activities were among the issues identified by young people. Girls were also less likely than boys to take part regularly.

Ffit Conwy is already involved in a range of initiatives designed to improve physical health and wellbeing across the county. Its provision includes junior fitness, swimming, family activities and programmes aimed at older residents.

The council has also been specifically targeting activity among 11-to-15-year-olds, with a programme aimed at improving physical and mental wellbeing and encouraging greater participation among girls.

Ffit Conwy's investment extends beyond organised classes. A new gym at Ysgol Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay opened last year, with pupils able to use the facilities and take part in instructor-led sessions during the school day. The wider junior sports and activities project has received £126,000 through the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.

The council says its leisure facilities are also seeing strong demand. More than 1.17 million visits were recorded at Conwy leisure centres during 2024-25, while Ffit Conwy membership increased to more than 8,200.

Councillor Dilwyn Roberts, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Governance Services, said the Born to Move project was still in its early stages but that engagement from schools was looking positive.

He said the aim was to get as many young people as possible moving and engaging with fitness across Conwy.

Councillor Aaron Wynne, Cabinet Member for Education, said giving children opportunities to be active every day was essential and that the partnership would provide schools with resources to encourage healthy lifestyles.

Les Mills says it hopes the partnership will help children and families develop positive relationships with movement and wellbeing.