Matalan Sporting Promise supports school sports and PE activities in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, while schools across the country can nominate themselves to win a visit from sporting star Sir Steve.

"It has been really enjoyable to go on this visit and it's fantastic to see the kids having so much fun taking part in sport which is something I am so passionate about," Sir Steve told insidethegames.

"We are living in very difficult economic times and it is no secret that school sport has suffered big cuts.

"It would be easy to see how school sport could become less of a priority with things moving more and more to academia but sport has a unique ability to transform young lives and that is why I am so delighted to be able to support the Matalan Sporting Promise programme.

"It is projects like this that really put the spotlight on sport not only for the Olympic stars of the future but for young people who just want to have fun and keep fit."

There are two parts to the Matalan Sporting Promise campaign.

The first part is TOP Sport, which is designed for primary education and will be in 3,000 schools by the end of 2012, with 15,000 teachers trained and the aim being to cover all primary schools in the UK over the next few years.

The second part is yoUR Activity which concentrates on secondary schools and the young people who may not want to take up traditional mainstream sports.

Hundreds of schools are signed up already and their pupils now have the chance to try activities like parkour, street cheer and jump rope.

Nigel Williams, PE coordinator at Badgerbrook Primary School, was there to oversee the day's activity and is very enthusiastic about the programme.

"Matalan Sporting Promise and TOP Sport is such a brilliant resource for teachers and pupils," Williams said.

"We've all loved the PE lessons this summer and it has been really exciting to have Sir Steve here today to get involved in the sessions and to show his support."

Tom Peel, manager for the Matalan store in Leicester added: "Matalan are committed to getting more young people taking part in more sport and I'm delighted to see the TOP Sport programme working so well here at Badgerbrook Primary.

"We really want to strengthen our relationships with the local schools and it's not just for the children either, their parents will receive great offers in store."

Matalan are now planning the 2012 programme, and teachers and parents who would like to receive this resource in their school should click here to register their interest.

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