School Sport Partnership scoops award
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
27/10/2008
The council’s School Sports Partnership (SSP) has picked up two highly commended certificates at a prestigious Youth Sport Trust awards ceremony.
The certificates were presented for the SSP's work to increase participation in competition for 14 to 16 year olds and also for creating an innovative approach to engage young people in sport.
The SSP helps schools to develop PE and sport opportunities for all young people and partnership development manager Clinton Joseph was presented with the certificates at the ceremony in Telford.
The certificate for increasing participation for 14 to 16 year olds was awarded due to the success of the SSP’s innovative X-Train Challenge initiative. This scheme, which took place in collaboration with Greenwich Leisure Ltd, changed the focus of taking part in sport to personal health and fitness and many more students got involved as a result.
The second certificate was presented as a result of the massively popular Inspire Football Project that saw the SSP link up with Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
The project was set up to help 24 15 and 16 year-old boys from the Burlington Danes Academy, Shepherds Bush, who struggled in punctuality and attention to learning in English, Maths and Science.
The scheme saw coaches from QPR train the youngsters from 7am to 8am on Monday’s Wednesdays and Friday over a ten week period. In return, pupils received a free healthy breakfast before attending lessons. The scheme had incredible results with nearly all pupils improving their level of attendance and attainment.
Cllr Antony Lillis, cabinet member for community and children’s services, said: “I would like to congratulate the SSP on these successes. The organisation does some sterling work to get young people involved in sport through schools. Inspire Football was a particularly innovative scheme and I know that it was hugely popular with those who took part.”
Clinton Joseph said: “It was a pleasure to pick up the certificates in Telford but the success of these schemes is down to the hard work and dedication of the entire SSP rather than just myself. We will continue to work hard and encourage young people to achhieve through sport.”
