SELSTON Arts and Community College sports co-ordinator Phil Strachan has urged the people of Ashfield to get online and help the school scoop Norwich Union's £50,000 top prize to bridge the gap between school and community sport.
‘Girls in Sport Day’ sees pupils from years 7-11 taking part in a day of sport.
But the college want to turn this day into a programme to encourage girls to take up sport in the community and will battle it out against sporting initiatives from ac
ross the UK for the next four months in an attempt to secure much-needed funding.
The initiative hopes to secure a grant from the Norwich Union Community Sports Fund scheme and is appealing to members and non-members alike to help by voting for the project.
Alongside the top prize there will be silver awards worth £12,500 and bronze awards worth £1,000, and all Ashfield residents have to do is vote for the local initiative on the website www.joinourteam.com
Strachan said: “One of the major aims of the Girls in Sport day is to highlight what there is in the community by using local coaches to take the sessions and advertise their club or sessions.
“This grant would take this successful foundation to a new level in terms of longevity and quality of experience for the girl students at Selston Arts and Community College.
“Moreover, it will be the catalyst for the students being more empowered to join local sports clubs and facilities.”
Meanwhile, Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell – who is supporting the scheme for the second successive year – believes no one knows what the local community needs more than those who call it home.
“It is a great scheme as the communities can get involved and decide on the initiatives they think can improve their local area,” said Campbell.
“It brings the community back together and they choose how to improve sport in the area and where funding should go.
“A lot of people and organisations give out funding but often the local community don’t know where it has gone – but this is different.
“Money is vital in all sports including athletics. For me growing up on a council estate my youth club was one of the places I went to learn discipline, self respect and how to respect others - and these kinds of initiatives will have the same impact on the kids of today.”
As the team behind UK Athletics, Norwich Union is committed to supporting athletics from playground to podium, making it easier for athletes to reach their full potential and for the next generation to get active for more information visit www.joinourteam.com.
The full article contains 455 words and appears in Alfreton Chad newspaper.
