'Shock' at low level of Jersey child activity

A local sports club owner and school key worker said statistics on levels of physical activity and obesity in children had left him "shocked" and "sad".

Joe Brophy, owner of boxing club Release, said schools were "the perfect place" to increase children's activity levels.

A 2026 public health report on obesity, diet and physical activity in Jersey found that only about a fifth of children reached the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended hour of exercise per day and one third of Year 6 children were obese.

It found there were "clear associations" between high device screen use and low physical activity levels.

Brophy said: "I think it's quite sad it's got to that point. When I was looking at the reports, I was just a bit shocked by it really."

He said working at a school he heard kids say their weekends involved staying inside gaming or on their phones.

"That's the way they socialise, they don't have to go outside to meet their friends when it's all in their hand," he said.

Brophy continued that greater sports provisions in schools could help raise child activity levels.

He said: "A lot of kids said they didn't have the time or couldn't stay after school to access after school activities."

He added that the price of clubs was prohibitive and "families are under enough stress" with increasing cost of living, so activity during school hours was "such an important part" of meeting exercise targets.

While the children at Release said they were active, they had ideas why not every child did as much exercise.

Theo said: "It's 100% technology because these days people are on their phones, iPads, PlayStation, Xbox - all those devices - and it's bad for their health."

Ella said: "I do dance, running, netball and boxing but not many kids do that because of the rising price of clubs and physical activity."

Willow said: "We've normalised going on our phones instead of spending time outside. A lot of kids at the age of five already have a device and its setting them up to go on it more [in future]."

Jersey Sport's Sportin Schools scheme aims to give schoolchildren the opportunity to try new activities.

The charity scheme had an extra £95,000 in funding for 2026 which Dom Blampied, sport development officer, said would allow more sports to be offered.

Blampied said the scheme encouraged children to take up new sport outside of school.

He added there was funding available for children to access sports clubs if their family could not afford it.

Parents, schools, or the Children and Families Hub can refer their children to Jersey Sport for the funding.

Emily Jennings, a local play design consultant, said having accessible outdoor spaces was needed to get children playing outside instead of using screens.

Jennings said high obesity rates, lack of physical movement and social isolation in children informed how she designed play areas.

"Really social, physical play that is freely accessible and exciting and fun is a great way to counteract those three issues," she said.

Jennings added children "need to feel welcome in public spaces" and signs that said "no ball games" could discourage them from playing.

She said: "Actually, providing play areas does really encourage children to get out and play with one another."

Jersey Sport is investing £1m into local sports and nearly £200,000 into their Sportin Schools scheme this year, which gives children the opportunity to try new sports.

Previously, Sports Minister Andy Jehan said the government had to "keep investing" in sport on the island.

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