Following the success of its first two competitions in December 2020 and March 2021, Rise North East has again teamed up with Together For Children to launch the third #TheDailyMileSunderland competition, to support and encourage children in the city of Sunderland to become or remain active whilst at nursery or school.

The active partnership for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, Rise, is continuing to work closely with Sunderland-based Together For Children to launch the third phase of the competition, which will see primary schools and nurseries as well as (in a change to the first competition) families participating from home, win one of six prizes worth a combined total of £2,500 spend on sports equipment.

The competition, will be run on Twitter using #TheDailyMileSunderland (those schools not on Twitter can submit entries via email) and requires education providers and parents or carers of those aged three to 11 years old in Sunderland to simply tweet a picture or video of their child/children or pupils taking part in The Daily Mile either at school or at home, once per week from Thursday 10 June until Friday 16 July 2021.

Gary Young, Daily Mile Coordinator at Rise, said: “The Daily Mile Sunderland competition has been so well-received in the past so we’re looking forward to seeing the efforts of primary schools, nurseries, parents and carers in getting the children moving again, and we’re excited to be giving them the chance to win something that will really benefit the children’s’ physical and mental health.”

The Daily Mile is just 15 minutes of running every day. Taking part in The Daily Mile helps schools to rebuild their children’s fitness and improve their emotional and mental health – all whilst being outside in the fresh air and sticking to social distancing guidelines. It costs nothing and there is no extra workload for staff. Children and their teachers can both enjoy being outside together, taking a short break from the classroom before learning resumes.

Jamie Scott, Project Manager at Together For Children, said: “Daily physical activity has many benefits, including improved mental health, which is has never been more important than it is now with the impending second national lockdown. Exercise is proven to increase engagement and attainment in the classroom, or home-school as we’ve been more used to recently, and joining in with The Daily Mile enables children to take part in regular physical activity in a safe and positive environment. Thanks to our ongoing partnership with Rise on #TheDailyMileSunderland, we’re able to support the physical and mental wellbeing of children in nurseries and primary schools across Sunderland.”

To enter #TheDailyMileSunderland, read the Ts & Cs below, then head over to Rise North East’s Twitter page and tag us in your videos and photographs. If your school doesn’t have a Twitter account, don’t worry! You can click here send your videos/photographs with details of your school and the class taking part to Gary Young (Children and Young People Development Manager at Rise)

Full competition rules, terms and conditions can be found below.

#TheDailyMileSunderland competition rules, terms and conditions:

• Schools and nurseries based in Sunderland delivering education to children aged 3 - 11 years are eligible to enter the competition and will be eligible to win competition prizes.

• Parents and carers of children who attend school or nursery based in Sunderland delivering education to children aged 3 - 11 years are eligible to enter the competition and will be eligible to win competition prizes.

• The competition entry period opens on Monday 14 June at 9:00am and closes on Friday 16 July 2021 at 4:00pm.

• The competition will be run on Twitter and via email.

• To take part in the competition, eligible schools/nurseries/parents/carers must:

  • Post/email video’s or photos of their pupils/children taking part in The Daily Mile on the school/nursery Twitter page (parents/carers on their own personal Twitter page ensuring they mention their child’s nursery or school) during the competition period.

  • Post/email one video or photo per week during each week of the competition period, or at least one per week if they happen to miss one week. For example, no videos or photos on week one, but two videos or photos on week two, to make up for the week missed. The more photos or videos posted, the more chance of winning.

• Posts/emails must include the tag #TheDailyMileSunderland.

• Historic videos/photos (i.e. those taken prior to the competition starting or that have been posted previously on the nursery/school’s twitter page) will not be accepted.

• Consent:

  • Eligible schools/nurseries/parents/carers take full responsibility for all aspect of consent by posting video’s and photos on Twitter and being shared via email.

  • Posts may be shared by Together for Children, RISE, The Daily Mile Foundation and our partners on Twitter and other social media platforms.

• Competition Format and Prize Draw:

  • When the entry period ends, all schools and nurseries that are valid and eligible to take part in the competition will be entered into a prize draw.

  • The final decision relating to validity of entries will be made by Together for Children and Rise North East.

  • Prize winning schools/nurseries/parents/carers will be drawn at random.

  • The prize draw will be made by individuals without direct links to schools (e.g. school staff or governors will not be eligible to draw prizes)

• Competition Prizes: Monetary vouchers to be spent on physical activity and sport equipment will be awarded to the chosen nurseries/schools/parents/carers. Prize allocations will be as follows:

  • School prizes: Overall winner: £1000. Second place: £500. Third place (x3 prizes) £250.

  • At home prizes: Overall winner: £100. Runners up (x3 prizes) £50.

• Awarding prizes and use of prize money:

  • By taking part in the competition each winner agrees to use the prize money to fund the purchase of sports and activity equipment that will be used to benefit their pupils/children within six months of receipt of the prize money.

• Follow up:

  • By taking part in the competition each winning school or nursery agrees to take part in a promotional activity after the competition. This may comprise of an activity such as an interview with a member of staff to understand how prize money has been used or photos of pupils using equipment purchased using the money.