Joe Smith, a pupil at Strawberry Fields Primary School, was elected this autumn as Leeds’ children’s mayor. His manifesto, entitled When It Comes To Keeping Kidz Active – Leeds Leads, pledged to create "kids zones" in public gyms. He saw off competition from nine other candidates, polling 3,000 online votes to become elected last month for a one-year term in office.
Joe’s idea is to install sections in gyms that contain equipment similar to the adults, but made especially for children. He also wants each piece of equipment to have interactive games built in to make exercise more fun.
"We were set the task of writing a manifesto as homework," Joe explains. "Mine was picked as best in the class, then picked to represent our school. On holiday in Dubai, there was an adult gym and a kids gym and I really enjoyed it. If it could work in the hotel, it could work for kids in Leeds."
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