The secretary of state for culture, media and sport, Tessa Jowell, visited a Manchester YMCA on 25 September to meet three groups of young people who the YMCA is helping to get active.

The National Secretary of YMCA England, Angela Sarkis, and Graham Hobbs, CEO of Manchester YMCA, introduced youngsters involved in junior wrestling to Tessa Jowell alongside another group of youngsters currently taking part in a programme aimed at increasing their confidence and fitness.

Young people from Sunderland, Newcastle, Manchester and Coventry also spoke to the secretary of state about the Challenge Programme, part of the YMCA Active England Project which is designed to increase exercise among young people aged 14-25.

Training officer at City of Sunderland David McCreedy said: This visit was great and the fact that the youngsters all got to meet a member of parliament was a real bonus.” Details: www.ymca.org.uk