Meet our new Daily Mile Coordinator: Sam Payne

It is great to be in post as The Daily Mile Local Coordinator for Birmingham City.

My first week in the job has been a positive whirlwind getting to know some of the teams, processes and partners I will be working with over the next 18 months.

After just a week, it is clear to see that the city is 100% behind The Daily Mile's ambitions to introduce physical activity to the lives of our nation's primary school children. It is mine and The Daily Mile's ambitions to "reduce the health problems that have crept up on us"; to use the words of The Daily Mile's founder Elaine Wyllie MBE.

I myself am a huge believer in the power of physical activity to change lives. I believe that we have a unique opportunity in Birmingham to use the Commonwealth Games to inspire children, and captivate their inspiration with initiatives like The Daily Mile. It was interesting to read that The Daily Mile has been explicitly mentioned by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee as a way for schools to get involved in the games. To ensure that schools signing up to the Daily Mile have a strong and tangible link to the Commonwealth Games, I plan to work alongside our nation's plethora of top athletes to provide children with access to role models that will connect them to the games and shape their future.

I also hope to support schools tracking the progression of their pupils during their Daily Mile journey. A recent study found that pupils participating in The Daily Mile had 8.2% lower rates of Obesity in comparison to pupils engaging in a 'normal' school day. The study also suggested that the children had higher concentration levels within the class environment.

I would like to reiterate how excited I am to be in post and I look forward to working with Primary Schools over the next 18 months.

If you are interested in implementing The Daily Mile or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch via the following email address… sam.payne@sportbirmingham.org