Health

Joe Wicks eyes morning workouts for kids beyond the coronavirus lockdown

He’s stepped up to become the nation’s PE teacher, but when the schools return our cover star wants teachers to take up the mantle

Joe Wicks

Joe Wicks has stepped up to become the nation’s PE teacher at the time when parents needed him most – and he believes he has ushered in a revolution that will continue beyond lockdown.

The Body Coach has reeled in millions of kids and parents alike to join him in his energetic half-hour workouts on YouTube at 9am every weekday.

And while parents might be looking forward to the kids going back to school so youngsters don’t miss out on learning – and the adults get a breather too – Wicks wants what he has started to become something that teachers take on post-lockdown.

He even plans to create a library of content to help them get off the mark.

He tells The Big Issue in this week’s magazine: “That’s my aim. I think that teachers in schools who have been doing it, they’re gonna be like, ‘This was great. I miss that workout, I miss that energy we had, seeing kids with a smile on their face and being more focused afterwards.’

“Change can be implemented by the teachers themselves. It doesn’t need government legislation or big bills to be passed, what you really need is just one teacher in every school who champions it. They’ll see the benefit. And they’ll tell the school next door, ‘This is what we’re doing, it’s amazing, give it a go.’”

To read more from Wicks and to support Big Issue vendors while they are unable to sell the magazine on the streets, buy this week’s magazine, available now from The Big Issue Shop. Or to get the latest issue delivered straight to your door or device, head to bigissue.com/subscribe. And now The Big Issue is also available in shops for the first time, pick a copy up in Sainsbury’s, McColl’s or Co-op.

As ever, 50 per cent of the cover price will go to supporting Big Issue vendors.

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If you can’t get to your local vendor every week, subscribing directly to them online is the best way to support your vendor. Your chosen vendor will receive 50% of the profit from each copy and the rest is invested back into our work to create opportunities for people affected by poverty.
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