Leisure Connection is offering five London schools free access to two of its sites as part of a pilot project to get children fit.

The three-year scheme, starting next September, is the brainchild of Barry Gardiner, MP for North Brent. Five secondary schools in the London constituency have signed up to the government-backed project, which will see children participating in two hours of after-school sport each week.

The activities - ranging from traditional games to self-defence and dance - will be co-ordinated by coaches from the London Active Partnership, a trade organisation which is working towards establishing a career structure for the coaching profession.

Leisure Connection has offered its full co-operation with the project, including free-of-charge access to two of its Brent sites during the off-peak 4-6pm period.

The scheme will have a rolling Year 7 intake, so by 2005, Years 7-9 should all be involved. While children will not be compelled to take part legally, head teachers will require them to participate.

Academics from Brunel University will monitor the pilot project in order to feedback to government, with a view to establishing a nationwide scheme.

Gardiner came up with the scheme in repsonse to the government's Plan For Sport policy paper in 1998, which stipulated that all children should be particpating in at least two hours of sport every week, over and above their normal PE provision.

In the longterm, Gardiner would like to see school children involved in two hours of sport each day, integrated into the school timetable from 2-4pm, with the school day ending at 5.30pm for all. In addition to the benefits for children's health, he says, this could have a significant impact on a range of other issues, such as youth crime, transport, and after-school childcare for working mothers.

'This generation of children is going to be the first that will predecease its parents, if we don't take action now,' says Gardiner. 'It's vital we get children involved in sport as part of their everyday lives.'