Business partnership aims to encourage children to be more active

Crossbar Education in Sport plan to work closely with Shrewsbury’s Jump In to provide additional fun opportunities for Shropshire youngsters to exercise.

The two companies will promote each other’s activities, offering discounts and special offers, as they look to inspire children to lead more active lifestyles.

Crossbar deliver sport across the curriculum in a number of county primary schools and run popular holiday clubs for children.

Based at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, they also offer educational programmes for young people and offer traineeships.

Jump In opened its Shrewsbury trampoline park in Henley Way in 2017.

Gavin Cowan, Crossbar’s managing director, said: “The partnership is in essence to try and get children active.

"We have linked in with Jump In because we want to make people more aware of what activities are on offer.

“Shropshire is a great place to explore and enjoy activities outside, but it’s important that great indoor facilities like Jump In are utilised throughout the year by the local community.

"From a Crossbar perspective, we want to offer something different to the children who enjoy attending our holiday clubs.

“They spend time with us when they are kept active with sports and games, as well as enjoying performing arts and also arts and crafts.

“But we also want them to visit Jump In and enjoy the benefits it has in having fun and getting them active.

"As part of our Crossbar holiday clubs, we will give out information about Jump In, including details of offers for children to go there.

"It will also work the other way as children who attend Jump In will have chance to spend time with Crossbar through special offers.”

Carrie Lewis, customer sales manager for Jump In, believes the partnership can benefit the local community.

Carrie said: “We have wanted to do more in the community for a while now and a partnership with Crossbar is a good way of getting the word out that we want people to come and have a good time at Jump In.

“Our facilities provide very good exercise and it’s also really good for people’s mental health, which is important considering what everyone’s been through over the last two years during the pandemic.

“We have lots of great activities for children to enjoy, including dodgeball, foam pit and we have just expanded our soft play area with two extra levels. There’s something for everyone and it’s very family orientated.”

Gavin added the partnership will also enable young people involved with Crossbar’s Alternative Provision programme to visit Jump In as part of their PE lessons.

“We work with a lot of learners, so taking them to Jump In for their PE sessions is going to be huge for them,” he said.