The Hull FC Community Foundation have been hailed by several local schools for the success of their ongoing Partner Schools Project.
One of the Hull FC Community Foundation’s most popular projects, the scheme sees pupils receive coaching all-year round from Hull FC Foundation staff.
Schools can choose from a range of engagement packages designed to offer support to Sport and Physical Education within schools that include many added benefits to the school including sports provision, player visits from the first-team squad, stadium tours, memberships, rewards for attendance and much more.
All visits and sessions will be tailored to meet the current government guidelines on social distancing at the time in question, as well as taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of both children and staff.
Several of our partner school who have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic for key-worker children have benefited from the help of staff members from the club’s Community Foundation through being part of the scheme, including running socially distant outdoor P.E sessions.
Christopher Pickering Primary School, Neasden Primary School and Wolfreton School are just three of 24 participating local schools:
Mr S Morgan and Mrs J Sanford – Christopher Pickering Primary School
“Our school has actively worked with the Hull FC Community Foundation for the last four years and we have forged an excellent relationship with the club which has had a considerable impact on our school and local community.
“Within school, the Foundation coaches have worked alongside staff to promote a love of physical activity and co-operative learning through their passion for Rugby League. Our teachers have been up-skilled which has had a lasting impact on our PE provision.
“Situated in an area of severe depravation, many of our children have difficult home lives and experience significant disadvantage on a daily basis. The coaches have built and excellent rapport with our pupils and ensure that each child feels that they are included, they can achieve and can enjoy Rugby League.
“The Foundation provides extra-curricular sports clubs, as well as holiday camps for the children away from term times. They have also helped promote attendance within school through providing us with prizes to give out in our weekly ‘100% attendance’ raffle.
“The Foundation has also provided numerous ‘magic moments’ over the years for the children of our school. Groups of children have attended the Jacuzzi Elite Performance Centre to experience a day in the life of a professional sportsperson. We have had players attend and participate in sports day – an egg and spoon race our children will never forget!
“Once a year, the club takes over the school and delivers a ‘Black and White Day’ and, by the end of Year 6, most children have taken active roles as flag bearers or mascots at a Hull FC home game. At face value, these experiences may just seem like treats and rewards. However, to the disadvantaged children of our school, these experiences are inspirational and promote ambition and aspiration. They show children that they can achieve such things and that professional sport, and rugby league, is open to everyone regardless of the challenges they may face.”
Mr R Hoult – Neasden Primary School
“The Hull FC Foundation’s Partner School Sports Programme has been fantastic for our school; the coaches have ensured a comprehensive PE provision for all our children.
“Through their technical knowledge and skills, they have supported colleagues to develop their own experience and confidence in the provision of valuable Physical Education lessons, whilst also delivering fun and engaging sessions for the children. This has enabled all children to improve their health, skills and physical literacy, and have a broader exposure to a range of sports; whilst showing the progression of skills throughout the different year groups.
“The supplementary services of the programme have also delivered informative and exciting experiences for the children. For some it has provided their first visit to the KCOM Stadium, and even their first watch of a Rugby League match.
“The visits stay with the children for a long time after particularly meeting First Team players and gaining an understanding of a professional sportsperson’s career. Visits from the players to the school have caused huge excitement amongst children and parents alike.”
Mr K Marshall – Wolfreton School
“For the past five years, Wolfreton School has been the beneficiary of a fantastic relationship with Hull FC and their Community Foundation team. They’ve provided expert coaching to our students both in PE lessons and extra curricular clubs. This has encouraged many students to join local community clubs by giving them the competence and confidence to engage in these activities.
“This has helped increase the health and lifestyle of a large number of students, which has had numerous positive impacts on the local community. They’ve also provided access to games and sessions with the players providing our students with positive role models.
“This has been extremely beneficial to some of our more vulnerable students who potentially don’t have many role models within their life outside of school. They’ve also offered CPD sessions to staff to help improve delivery when they’re not there.
“Another positive impact of the Hull FC Community team that I have experienced is through Cottingham Tigers RLFC for whom I coach one of their younger age groups. Hull FC helped boost our numbers from 6 children to 20+ last season. This was achieved by going in to the local Primary Schools delivering sessions and then signposting them to us.
“This is fantastic for the community and we’ve continued to grow meaning more and more young people are engaged in regular physical activity. This also improves the experience for the youngsters already involved; increasing the likelihood for lifelong participation in regular physical activity.”
To find out more about the Partner Schools Project, click here, or to express an interest in your school joining the project, please email richard.tate@hullfc.com
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