Karl Henry has told how the last few years have “really made people focus” on their health and wellbeing.
He said, “It’s been really challenging for everybody — for families, for children, for adults across the board — to try and adjust to the new norm and what that looks like. “When you do something you enjoy, you increase the chances of you doing that for the long term. And that’s what we want. Ireland has so much to offer in terms of paddle boarding, hiking, surfing, climbing, mountain biking — there’s just so much there.
He said, “It’s the only programme of its type in Ireland and it was set up back in 2014 — more than a million children have been involved in it. And it’s great — and it’s obviously in line with what I aim to do, which is to encourage people to get healthy and active, and access the different aspects of wellness from movements and food to mental wellbeing.
“We know that as pupils go through the school cycle, health and wellness become less and less important — so the earlier we can begin to teach people about the importance of it . But not only that, it’s important to make it engaging and fun so that you’re setting up healthy habits.