A Half Term to remember
Our Active Dons Half Term programme successfully welcomed 42 local children each day at Liberty Primary School. Participants were ecstatic to meet each other again and take part in many activities ranging from dance and drama to football, dodgeball and rugby. It was a Half Term that the children will never forget, and an invaluable week of rest for the parents!
The Active Dons programme is a free provision made possible by the generous help of Clarion Futures, it is inclusive and accessible to all children including those with additional needs; this half term 80% of the children attending receive free school meals. Positively impacting the local community is key to all of the Foundation’s work, the outcomes and feedback we have received about the programme shows just how big an impact it has on the children who attend.
30 out of the 42 children had previously attended the sessions and it was a pleasure to welcome another 12 new faces to the Active Dons programme. The sessions included a variety of activities that all the children got involved in, such as Grandmother’s Footsteps, Two Truths and a Lie, Dodgeball, Basketball, Football, Tag Rugby and also Dance and Drama. A typical day would start off with a light hearted warm up exercise, and then straight into ball based games such as Football, Basketball and Tag Rugby. Then at lunchtime the children recharged with lunch and a chance to catch up with their friends and coaches. The final part of the day included some more games such as Dodgeball which was a favourite among all kids.
Participant Shania said that her best part of the week was “Football and going outside to play Capture the Flag”.
Kelsey, another participant said that “if she wasn’t at the session she would be at home on her phone”.
A highlight of the week was a visit from first team players Paul Osew and Paul Kalambayi who gave a motivational talk about their journey to success – a brilliant opportunity for all the children on the programme to learn about hard work and dedication. The participants asked them many questions such as their favourite players and what it is like to be a footballer. The week was topped off with a children vs players/coaches Dodgeball game, it was comfortable victory for the latter! After this, awards were handed to children for their great work throughout the sessions with a special handshake from Paul and Paul.
