In March, St. Bega’s Catholic Primary School in Hartlepool welcomed a special visitor to inspire and energise their pupils, Jenny Wallwork, a former GB badminton player and Commonwealth medallist, joined the school for a day of fitness and motivation.
The event was held in partnership with Great Athletes, a national social enterprise dedicated to encouraging children to be more physically active and resilient. Jenny, who has proudly represented Great Britain 42 times and held the top UK ranking for four years, delivered a dynamic programme combining physical activity with personal development.
Pupils took part in an energetic circuit of activities followed by a masterclass, led by Jenny herself. The sessions emphasised key values such as resilience, determination, and positive mindset, giving children the chance to challenge themselves physically while learning from a true sporting role model.
A highlight of the day was a Q&A session, where pupils had the opportunity to ask Jenny questions about her career, training routine, and motivation. Jenny’s motto, "Your attitude is your altitude – it determines how high you fly," struck a chord with the children and staff alike. The event also had a fundraising element to support sport in school, raising an impressive £1,020 which will go towards new and improved sports equipment for the pupils.
For more information about the Great Athletes programme, visit https://greatathletes.org