Our Founders
Martin Footman – Martin is a school sports coach and England masters athlete, who has used his experience as an elite middle and long distance runner to develop an impressive array of training programmes for children. Qualified across a range of sports, he specialises in developing young people’s strength and endurance, and knows all about building specific muscle groups, fitness levels and skill sets for specific sports or activities.
Emma Footman – Emma is a sports graduate, qualified PE teacher and England athletics international, which means she has particular skills suited to helping children of all abilities achieve in sport and physical activity, from entry-level and above. She has an excellent understanding of what motivates young people to reach their goals and enjoys combining a strong mental approach with an advanced appreciation of endurance training.
Camps and Clubs
Active Academies provide high quality sport camps and clubs for children of all ages across Surrey and Sussex. Taking place after school or during the school holidays, sessions currently operate at St. Edmund’s School in Surrey, Grayshott Primary in Hindhead, The Vale School in Findon, Lancing Prep in Worthing and Lancing College in Lancing.
Our camps typically take place over several days during the school holidays and include Swim, Bike, Run (SBR), Athletics and Running workshops, plus a Multi Sports option involving a variety of team games and activities. We also offer Drama camps following a successful launch last summer.
Swim, bike & run camps are an increasingly popular choice, with many of our children using these sessions as either an introduction to the sport, or as a chance to improve race performances. Each camp provides children with the opportunity to develop their swimming, cycling and running techniques as well as build overall fitness. We also place a great deal of emphasis on the 4th discipline of ‘transitions’, all of which is tested through competitions, including a full triathlon on the final day.
Our clubs take place after school and focus on Running, Athletics, Boxercise, Fundamental Skills and Fitness. Clubs are a great way to try out new activities and help us spot and nurture talent over time, which is crucial if children are to develop and maintain lasting physical ability.
The main emphasis for all camps and clubs is enjoyment through achievement, which we aim to reach through a strong focus on skill development, motivation and performance. This comes from an understanding that children and young people get enormous satisfaction from being challenged in a safe and supportive environment, which is the philosophy at the heart of Active Academies.
Who else works at YNM?
Volunteers – YNM welcomes assistance from volunteers who are particularly interested in contributing to our children’s programmes. Parents and friends who just want to help out, as well as budding professionals looking to gain experience working with children and young people, regularly approach us to support holiday camps and afterschool clubs. Volunteers are supervised at all times and adhere to the same working standards as paid professionals.
Associate Team Member – These are professionals who work for us in a paid capacity, which means they hold the relevant qualifications and experience to lead individual sessions. All Team Members will have a current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, typically awarded through their sport’s governing body.
Associate Team Leader – Our most experienced and qualified Associates work for us as Team Leaders. Essentially, this means they either take charge of regular sessions or lead a children’s camp by planning activities and supervising Team Members and Volunteers. Team Leaders adhere to the same conditions as Team Members, as well as possess the advanced skills, qualifications and experience commensurate with a senior position.
Our Beliefs
- Physical development is best achieved through regular and purposeful training.
- Group training and guided exercise provide ideal environments to progress.
- Children exercise and perform better when supported by a coach or trainer.
- Physical fitness, strength and conditioning take time, energy and effort.
- Age, stage and ability are no barrier to progression and achievement.
Our Plan
- To increase our team of associates so we can deliver a full programme of children’s camps north and south of the region.
- To improve our online presence, both through social media and website development.
- To develop afterschool activities and running specific programmes.
What to bring?
Apart from children, not much really! That said, the following checklist might be useful, depending on which activity you are choosing:
✓ We do not provide food, so children will need a packed lunch and a snack for morning break (NO NUTS in either please), along with a water bottle.
✓ A range of appropriate sport specific clothing is necessary, preferably in layers that can be removed easily, including a water proof top layer and a pair of decent trainers.
✓ For pool based activities, please provide goggles, a towel and a spare top for transition practice where appropriate.
✓ Where cycling is involved a helmet is compulsory and do make sure that cycles are thoroughly checked and have good working brakes and tyres!
✓ Finally, remember to include sun cream and a hat during all spring and summer activities.
If you would like to purchase branded sports clothing for very reasonable prices please follow the link yourpinnacleshop.
Safeguarding
We take children’s safety and well-being very seriously. It is, in fact, at the very core of our business. As expected, everyone who works for Active Academies will have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in addition to specific training that relates to the activities being delivered. Essentially, we treat children as if they are our own and, with this in mind, their health and happiness is paramount.