October 2013
The Story Homes funded sports programme for schools launched for the second year and this time rolled out to nine school
s.
Story Homes and Carlisle and District Sport and Physical Activity Alliance Foundation (SPAAF) are working together to run the school sports programme for a second year. Last year, five local schools took part and thanks to the success and positive feedback from pupils and schools, the programme has been relaunched to nine local schools, making a bigger impact on more pupils than before.
The nine schools taking part in 2013 are: Brook Street, Newtown School, Norman Street School, Newlaithes School, St. Cuthbert’s, Kirkbampton, Petteril Bank School, Upperby School, Caldew Lea School.
The relaunch was held at Kirkbampton School who are taking part for their second year. Head Teacher Joan Routledge said: “We are really grateful for the support we are getting from the sports scheme. We do sport in schools but everything is budgeted very tightly. Because Story’s are providing the kids with this fantastic coaching and they are funding it, we can target our funds on other key areas.”
Ten year old year six pupil Jess Ican of Kirkbampton School said: “It’s fun because you can learn new sports and keep trying them at home. I play them in the garden and tennis in the field. At the sports day we got to meet lots of other people from other schools and make new friends. I wouldn’t normally get to do this and I’m getting better than my brother now.”
Charlie Stubbs, also ten, added “I think the coaching is exciting. It gives you an opportunity to try something you didn’t before and you get to do teamwork. I watched the Olympics and wanted to do all the things I had seen. The long jump, swimming and javelin were my favourites.
It’s good because you can have a go at the sports, see if you like them
and if you don’t win you can always try again next time.”
Story Homes started the scheme in partnership with SPAAF in September 2012, aiming to keep the Olympic legacy alive amongst school pupils. The SPAAF coaches spent half a day per week working with the children in their own schools, teaching new sports and encouraging them to get involved in physical activity. They promoted health, hygiene and fitness alongside confidence, self esteem and motivation to achieve and succeed in sport.
Last year’s scheme ended in a celebration festival day, held at the Sheepmount in Carlisle, with the schools each showcasing their own flag designs and competing in team and individual sports. Feedback from the pupils, teachers, parents and coaches who participated was extremely positive and many said that they wished to continue learning the sports they had a flavour of.
Fred Story, Chief Executive of Story Homes said: “We started this programme back in 2012 in partnership with Carlisle SPAFF after identifying the need for more sports opportunities for local children. I enjoy sport, as do my family, and I wanted to see the opportunity to play and enjoy sport given to children in areas where they don’t always have easy access to facilities and equipment.
“I have been involved from the start, going along to watch the children taking part, and it was fantastic to see the effort from each and every child at the sports festival. The feedback coming from teachers and parents made the whole programme more rewarding for me and the SPAAF coaches, knowing that children who once stood on the sidelines are now fully participating in, and enjoying, team games. I hope that we can continue the success this year.”
Some feedback from the Schools included:
Thank you very much for this excellent opportunity. Our Governors have also had reports on the scheme and are very impressed and grateful. Brook Street School
Staff have acquired new skills and commented to me about their improved confidence in delivering certain skills/aspects of the programme. Overall I think the scheme has been highly successful since children and staff alike are benefitting from the skilled support being offered. The whole school has benefitted enormously from this excellent, generous programme and our hope is to continue to work in partnership to develop further the good work achieved so far. Newtown School
The children have all enjoyed the sessions that Megan has planned and delivered for them! They have all been engaged in their learning. The staff have all seen ideas to aid their future planning, they have definitely found the experience useful. Overall I think we have benefitted as a school from the scheme not only the children’s learning, but also to inspire staff in their future PE sessions. Rockliffe School
