Over 200 year 5 school children have benefited over the winter term from a six-week block of out of school sessions supported by Rhinos star Ashton Golding on the Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s ‘Inspiring Champions’ project sponsored by IGEN Trust
At the close of the first term for the Easter school holidays, the programme has so far involved 14 groups of students from seven Leeds primary schools, reaching a total of 212 year 5 school children across the city.
Delivered by Leeds Rhinos Foundation Project Tutors Chris Barr and Martin Hodgkinson, the programme has been devised to contribute to the reduction of children becoming NEET later on in life, targeting those statistically more likely to fall into that category with early intervention at the key stage 2 age group.
Running since January, the programme covers themes focussing on health and wellbeing, ambitions and aspirations, building resilience, looking towards the future, learning respect and values and a chance to identify with the Rhinos and the city of Leeds by taking a tour of the stadium.
As an added bonus for children on the course, Leeds Rhinos star Ashton Golding has also worked with the programme exclusively this term, providing inspiration for the groups with Q & A sessions as well as, presenting awards in the final week of delivery.
At a recent session with children from a school on the programme, Golding commented:
“It’s really good getting involved with stuff like this, we have so many year 5 students coming in from so many different schools, it’s just a great example of how the Foundation links with so many schools in the Leeds area.
“To be able to volunteer and see the progress the kids are making from week to week, it’s really good it’s really. I’m a big lover of Leeds so to be able to come in and share my passion with the kids, is great and really fulfilling, I get to do something I enjoy and I can hopefully pass something on to them.”
General Manager for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation Davide Longo added:
“I’d like to say a massive thankyou to the IGEN Trust Charity, without their support we wouldn’t receive the funding to deliver such a project, currently we have dealt with 212 children from 7 different primary schools and its fantastic that we can offer an alternative and different learning environment for these young people.”
The programme will continue into next term with more schools signed up, which will see classes running every day of the week at Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s TryZone Education Centre at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.
For more information on the ‘Inspiring Champions’ Project contact Project Tutor Chris Barr at Chris.Barr@leedsrhinosfoundation.org
A video of the Inspiring Champions Project with Ashton Golding is available to view below: