Marilyn Hawes of Freedom From Abuse on The Transformative Power of Youth Sport

Marilyn Hawes is a British child protection campaigner, author, and the founder and CEO of the non-profit organisation Freedom From Abuse. She educates parents, carers, teachers, and children on how to recognize child sexual exploitation, abuse, and grooming tactics. She regularly speaks in national and international media. She was named "Most Inspirational Woman of the Year" in 2017 and authored the book Enough Abuse: Parental Guidelines for Identifying and Managing the Issues Created by the "grooming" and Sexual Abuse of Children Under the Age of Sixteen.

Inspiring Words From Olympic Gold Medallist Dame Flora Duffy

Olympic Gold Medallist Dame Flora Duffy led 148 young athletes (aged 10 to 18) as they cycled to the start line. She also delivered an inspiring speech at the award ceremony—advice every young person should listen to and act upon!

"If I look back on my career, there's one saying, mantra, or quote that stuck with me that I would like to share with you: "Don't focus on being the best, focus on being the best at getting better."

I particularly like that quote, and it really did stick with me and resonated with me throughout my career, because it forced me to focus on the details. Focus on the processes that help me get better, versus focusing on the outcome—winning this race, finishing on the podium. But what can I do that I can be the best version of yourself at each race? And that can be simple as working on your swim technique, or focusing on running biomechanics, your fueling, or whatever it might be."

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing

Participating in sport has a profound impact on a child's psychological health, directly counteracting symptoms of stress, anxiety, and clinical depression.

• Combating Depression: Released on World Mental Health Day (October 10th, 2024), a major report produced for Sport England by Edge Hill University reviewed evidence across 143 studies. The review found strong, consistent evidence that sport and physical activity interventions yield positive effects on diagnosed mental health problems in children and young people. Specifically, aerobic exercise produced moderate reductions in adolescent depression, while combining aerobic and resistance exercises generated strong effects. Moderate-to-high intensity activity in group settings proved particularly potent compared to individual programs;

• Building "Mental Toughness": Joint research by Manchester Metropolitan University and the Youth Sport Trust indicates that school sport participation is a direct predictor of self-belief, life satisfaction, and mental resilience—especially during high-stress periods like school exams; and

• Neurological Development: Regular exercise alters the brain's physical structure. According to research from Swansea University, children who play sports show thicker grey matter in areas responsible for motor function and the hippocampus, which directly improves memory, emotional regulation, and attention spans.

Social & Character Development

Sports offer a natural framework for children to build key life skills that cannot easily be taught in a standard classroom environment.

• Peer Connection: Team sports foster a sense of belonging and community, giving children safe spaces to form friendships, establish trust, and practice communication; and

• Socio-Moral Skills: Overcoming defeats and working toward shared goals helps young people cultivate grit, leadership skills, emotional resilience, and civic responsibility.

Physical Health & Habits

• Establishing an exercise regimen early protects long-term health and prevents chronic diseases into adulthood;

• Weight Management: With one in three UK children leaving primary school classified as overweight, regular sport is vital for burning calories and managing healthy weight;

• Somatic Benefits: Consistent exercise enhances cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, strengthens bone and muscle density, and reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes; and

• Better Sleep: Increased daytime activity naturally helps children achieve deeper, high-quality sleep, directly boosting their focus and academic performance the following day.

The Wellbeing & Participation Gap

While the benefits are clear, systemic inequalities heavily influence which children reap the rewards of sport in the UK.

The Gender Gap

Boys are historically more active than girls (51% vs 45%). According to the Children's Commissioner for England, girls' participation drops sharply after age 11 due to a fear of judgment, low body confidence, and lack of inclusive team environments.

Socioeconomic & Racial Disparities

Children from more affluent backgrounds are significantly more active (57%) than those from less affluent families (45%). White (50%) and Mixed-race (49%) children also show higher sport engagement rates than Asian (43%) and Black (42%) children.

The Pandemic Generation

Post-COVID-19 data shows a marked decline in basic physical skills (such as swimming proficiency) and lowered levels of baseline happiness and resilience among younger school cohorts.

Future Recommendations

To maximise the positive impact of sports on youth wellbeing, national bodies like Sport England are championing a "child-first" approach as part of their broader strategy:

• Prioritise Enjoyment Over Competition: Shifting the focus from strict winning metrics to "physical literacy"—building confidence, competence, and pure enjoyment;

• Support Disengaged Groups: Introducing targeted initiatives like Studio You to re-engage young girls through non-traditional, relaxed, or music-backed fitness alternatives; and

• Continuous School Integration: Ensuring that PE and sports are protected throughout the entire academic year, rather than being paused during exam periods.

By synthesising evidence across real-world settings and focusing on inclusive, enjoyably structured activity, sport providers and policymakers can better support all children in leading happier, healthier lives.

Sports—especially when competing alongside teammates—build lifelong friendships, resilience, and dedication. I experienced this first-hand this past weekend while supporting my 10-year-old granddaughter, who was selected to represent Bermuda as a triathlete in the CARIFTA Games.

Triathlons are certainly not for the faint-hearted. The team spirit and adrenaline were off the charts, and the pride of completing the race and contributing points to the team across all age groups was immense. My granddaughter even set personal bests in all three disciplines, and her joy was palpable.

My message to the younger generation is simple: Get out there! Run, cycle, swim—do anything rather than nothing. Respect what sports can do for you mentally, physically, and emotionally. It really will change your life and health for the better.