Derby County FC team up with Caudwell Children to deliver sports and fitness programme
Derby County Community Trust has teamed up with Caudwell Children, the national charity that provides emotional and practical support to disabled children and their families, to create a sports and fitness programme for disabled children in Burton-upon-Trent and the surrounding area.
The programme is open to young people between the ages of 8-18 and will be delivered at the Shobnall Leisure Complex, Shobnall Road, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 2BB, over four days in March and April.
The dates are:
- Saturday 7 March (10am-3pm)
- Sunday 8 March (10am-3pm)
- Saturday 21 March (10am-3pm)
- Saturday 11 April (1pm-5pm)
The programme will culminate with a visit to the iPro Stadium to see Derby County FC, take on Brentford FC, in a Sky Bet Championship game that’s likely to be a title, or promotion, decider for the club.
Funded by the Denman Charitable Trust the programme will introduce participants to a wide range of sports.
Keller McHenry, Short Break Activities Coordinator for Caudwell Children, believes that the activities will be hugely beneficial and is urging young people to enlist on the programme. He said:
“Children will get the opportunity to learn new skills in sports that they may never have tried before. They’ll also get the chance to enhance their skills in games that they are already familiar with. We’ll have football, tennis, kwik cricket, golf and multi-skills available, as well as cycling with adapted bikes, and much, much more.”
Keller says that there will be a competitive element to the programme with participants taking part in a number of games. They will also enjoy the support of a team of volunteers who will be working alongside Derby County FC's highly skilled coaching staff.
But Keller is keen to stress that there is an extremely serious side to the programme. As he explained:
“Whilst the programme will be full of fun, excitement, and energy it also, very importantly, helps participants to develop: leadership, communication skills, collaborative team work, independence, creativity, enterprise and motivation.”
The programme is completely free and participants will also receive a credit towards the ASDAN Personal Development Programme, or the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness.
ASDAN is a pioneering curriculum development organisation and awarding body, which ensures that accredited programmes will grow skills for learning, skills for employment and skills for life.
A staggering 78% of disabled children in the UK have no access to activities outside of their home. Keller believes that the charity’s series of activity programmes go some way to addressing this issue.
As he explained:
“The programme will not only give participants invaluable skills it will also help to build their confidence, help them to build friendships and enable families to form lasting social networks.”
Caudwell Children’s short break activity programmes are particularly popular with young people, says Keller, and he’s urging parents to get in touch as soon as possible:
“There are limited places on the programme and we take bookings on a first come first serve basis.”
Keller is also keen to stress that there are additional benefits for the whole family. As he concluded:
“The programme will not only be inspirational and fun for the children; it will also provide parents and carers with vital short break respite. A staggering 75% of families with disabled children feel so isolated that it has caused anxiety and depression.”
Participants will need to bring their own packed lunch.
