One of my biggest passions is sport. I absolutely love going to watch Swindon Town or Swindon Supermarine on a Saturday afternoon, and I often play five-a-side when I get the chance.

I’ve also been lucky to play at Stamford Bridge for the Parliamentary Football Team which raises money for charity.

Of course, its not all about football. Cricket is another favourite – although myself and fellow England cricket supporters are keeping quiet at the moment after an embarrassing couple of recent defeats Down Under!

But aside from watching and playing, I believe that sport plays an absolutely vital role in local communities across the UK.

Participation in sport not only promotes health and well-being, but it also teaches key skills including teamwork, communication and discipline – all valuable throughout life.

It also provides a competitive atmosphere which encourages ambition and determination, and gives experiences of both winning and losing – again providing crucial life lessons.

This is why I believe that sport is especially important for young people.

So I was delighted to visit the Draycott Sports Camp at Oakhurst Primary School during half term.

The camp was established by Mark Draycott, who also works as a PE teacher at Oakhurst, with the aim to provide a fun and enjoyable facility for children to attend during the school holidays.

It can often be a real hassle for working parents to come up with ideas and options for their children throughout the school holidays, and the lure of TV and video games can mean many children do not get enough activity.

The Draycott Sports Camp is a great option for working parents across the Northern Sector who are looking for a variety of activities at good value.

There was something for everybody, as the activities spread across a range of sports including netball, football, hockey, lacrosse, cricket and gymnastics.

It was also clear that there was a variety of different levels participating so no child felt excluded and the atmosphere was nothing but enjoyment.

On my arrival, the 75 energised children attending the half-term camp wasted no time in challenging me to do as many kick-ups as possible and shoot a netball hoop. Thankfully I managed to maintain composure and produce a half-decent effort for both without embarrassing myself!

Full credit goes to Mark for creating this fantastic facility for young children across North Swindon.

Sport is vital for our community and I will continue to champion sports (especially school sports) in Parliament. I only wish that such a camp had been available when I was a youngster!

If interested, please visit www.draycottsportscamp.com. The next camp runs throughout the Easter holidays.