Another new addition in 2008 is the UK School Games Official School Supporters Programme, headed up by Jason Gardener. This programme seeks to involve as many young people in the Games by providing a link to the competing teams, and engage with the UK School Games through physical education, school sport and whole school activities.

Over 40 teachers from schools across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire attended a day of workshops at Bath University on Tuesday 1^st April, to explore the many different ways in which they could involve the young people in the UK School Games, whether this meant inspiring them to qualify as a competitor through the relevant National Governing Body of Sport pathway, write school newspaper articles about their own school teams based as inspired by the UK School Games, or attend the four day event itself to sample the atmosphere and excitement of a major multi-sport event.

Commenting on the programme, Jason Gardener said, “The UK School Games Official School Supporters Programme is a great example of how the UK School Games is so much more than simply a one-off event. This programme has been designed to encourage enthusiastic young people and their schools from the local area around the host cities to really look at how the UK School Games can make an impact across a variety of areas. I’m really pleased to be involved directly with is programme that will reach so many young people, to have over 40 teachers here today shows the local level of interest in the UK School Games.”