Partner Spotlight - ColegauCymru

One of the aims of the charity is that their projects are having a beneficial effect for the 4,000 to 5,000 of those learners, who are considered less active.

In fact, the overall picture for young people in that age group could be far more concerning for those anxious to ensure the benefits of healthy activity are enjoyed by all.

“Up to 50 per cent of people who responded to a recent survey said they didn’t do any physical activity at all,” says Baynham.

“That’s quite a thing to say that someone at 16 has stopped doing physical activity. 

“There is now a bigger picture, too, around what we call active well-being. It’s about trying to enable that connection between being active and young people’s well-being, in that age group between 16 and 21.”

That sounds straightforward but is certainly not as easy as it appears.

There may be a whole host of social and economic reasons why certain young people cannot take up the offer of physical activity, while attitudes to formal offers of sport and physical recreation can be hard to predict. 

“Our aim is to get the colleges to encourage young people to be more active,” says Baynham, who co-ordinated the duathlon project with Welsh Triathlon, Coleg Sir Gar, AoC Sport, Welsh Cycling, Carmarthenshire County Council and Pembrey Country Park. 

“But it’s difficult when you are dealing with 16-year-olds who may have fallen out of love with PE or school sport. So, it’s about re-engagement.”

That takes consultation, particularly with teenagers who may have suddenly gone from a school environment, where some sport is a compulsory part of the curriculum, to one where it is voluntary.

“A few years ago, the students wouldn’t be consulted,” adds Baynham.

“The netball, aerobics or yoga session would be scheduled, the teacher would arrive and then, perhaps, no-one would turn up. 

“In the last few years, there is much more consultation from people the students can relate to.  Those discussions will mean people are aware of the social challenges, other things going on in their lives.”

Time will tell whether those introduced to the simple pleasures of duathlon - both athletes and volunteers - will feel inspired to do more.

But with nearly 300 students and staff from Gower College Swansea, Cardiff and Vale College, Coleg y Cymoedd, Coleg Sir Gâr a Ceredigion and Bridgend College having taken part in the Go-Tri event, it is hoped plenty will have enjoyed themselves enough to give more activities a go this summer.