NEARLY 200 children enjoyed playing sport at a festival aimed at getting young people more active.

Pupils from Hove Junior School, Brunswick Primary School and The Bilingual School in Hove and Stanford Junior School in Brighton took part in the community games hosted by Legal and General and the charity Sport Inspired.

In total 170 primary school pupils took part in athletics, football, karate, dodgeball, rugby and Brazilian martial art capoeira at Withdean Sports Centre in Brighton.

For many of the pupils it was their first time trying these sports.

Organisers of the event hope the festival will encourage children to play sport by showcasing the opportunities in their area.

But it also looks to help them develop confidence and life skills and improve their mental wellbeing.

Sport Inspired’s Felix Sullivan said: “There are five ways to help improve your mental wellbeing: connect, be active, keep learning, give to others and be mindful.

“The children are connecting through team spirit, they are being active through sport, they are learning new skills, they are giving by volunteering and they are being mindful by being in the present moment while playing sport.”

Also there helping were 15 pupils from Blatchington Mill School in Hove who volunteered as young leaders.

Romy Chivers, 14, said she wanted to take part to help girls get more involved in sport.

She said: “I think girls lose their confidence as they got older and that’s not good so I wanted to volunteer today to help them.”

Cerys Bussell-Lloyd, 15, said: “It’s good for children to get involved, have fun and try new things.”

Nicky Mihalop, from Legal and General, who helped organise the day, said: “It is really great seeing the kids enjoying something they’ve never done before.”

This is the fourth year Legal and General has hosted the event alongside Sport Inspired but the first time in Sussex.