The Stockport County Community Trust in partnership with finance company Together, has re-launched its school initiative for the 22/23 season. The assembly roadshow engages youngsters with football and provides free tickets for local school children to come and see elite sport in action.
As part of the initiative, the Community Trust delivers an engaging presentation to primary school children helping them to understand and adopt the good behaviours associated with elite sport including healthy eating, regular exercise, and the importance listening and trying your best.
The presentation gives children the chance to meet their favourite County players and ask them questions about the sport as well as proving interesting information about the club and competitions. The youngsters also enjoy an appearance from Club Mascot Vernon the Bear.
Dave Wardle, County Community Trust Manager said:
“It has been fantastic to resume the popular programme at one of our Partner Schools, Vernon Park Primary recently. For the new school year we have developed the presentation to celebrate last year’s fantastic success in our club returning to the Football League. The reaction to the presentation was brilliant and all the children and staff were fully engaged throughout, particularly enjoying the head-to-head cheering challenge, as well as the Vernon the Bear healthy eating race. Connecting with the local community and engaging children from a young age with sport is so important for their development. We can’t wait to work with more local schools in the future and witness the children and their families cheering County on from the Together Stand throughout the season.”
Marc Goldberg, Commercial CEO at Stockport-based specialist lender Together, which provides loans and mortgages for businesses and individuals, welcomed the re-launch of the “inspiring” initiative.
He said: “As a local business we’re proud to be supporting this exciting programme, which is helping to make professional football and a local club accessible for thousands of children – inspiring them for years to come.
“It’s particularly important in such uncertain times to give young people a good grounding in life, and sport has proved it can provide a major catalyst for change. Promoting young talent is key for me and my colleagues at Together and we put a lot of emphasis on nurturing the younger generation.
“County’s initiative provides huge educational benefits, with experts and role models teaching important information about behaviour, eating and exercise in a way that the children can easily relate to. For many of the youngsters, it will provide their first cherished memories of the beautiful game and could help to inspire the next generation of players on the pitch.”
