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News from Sports Pursuits
Lode Heath Partnership
Sports Pursuits is a member of a new partnership between Lode Heath School & Sports College, Renewal Christian Centre, West Midlands Police, Bromford Housing Association and Solihull MBC Ward Councillors aimed at addressing some of the issues to do with community development & safety, young people and families in the neighbourhood. The Junior Athletics Education programme supports gifted and talented students in physical education and sport. Sports Pursuits role is to mentor these students providing a balance between sport, academic achievement and behavioural issues. Derek has recently been appointed as governor of Lode Heath School & Sports College.
Grace Academy, Bosworth and Alcott Junior Schools, North Solihull
Sport is used as a way of dealing with behavioural issues in the transition from Junior to Secondary School. Dennis Bailey an ex professional footballer who played for Queens Park Rangers, Bristol Rovers and Birmingham City, a graduate in Sports Science and recently qualified as a sports coach has led this pilot project. Funding has been provided through the Local Network Fund and West Bromwich Building Society.
New Partnership with City Road Junior School, Smethwick.
Sports Pursuits has recently partnered with City Road Junior School in Smethwick to run a football after school club for two days a week. The School is working together with Sports Pursuits delivering quality football coaching. We see this as a good way of building bridges between the community and the School and it is hoped that this will provide a haven for children where they can relax, have fun and be safe during after school hours. Sports Pursuits will provide the coaches and also train the local volunteers so that eventually the project will be self sustaining.
Lichfield Community Church
Having worked with this Church in 2007 Sports Pursuits was again invited to run a football course in the summer holidays. Pastor Jeff Fry was keen to use the vehicle of sports coaching to reach out into the outer city housing estate to engage with local young people and channel their energies into positive outcomes.
Derek’s Year
2008 has been a challenging year as the charity has reached the end of some of our major funding streams: Football Foundation, Local Network Fund and Awards for All. The Trustees encouraged Derek to focus more on local activities and in particular developing the relationship with the newly formed Lode Heath Partnership and other Solihull schools. Recently the Trustees have worked with Derek to launch a major funding campaign aimed at fostering these new developments and ensuring the longer term sustainability of the charity.
Check out www.justgiving.com/derekjefferson for more details of how you can help.
Derek has been supplementing his income through supply teaching and gaining lots of experience in working in some very challenging schools. Derek’s heart is to be involved with young people at a much younger age and their families to be able to help shape their outlook and to extend the influence of Sports Pursuits to other schools and youth groups in the community.