Football clubs jump for joy as Kinder + Sport Programme gets over 41,000 children active in the UK and Ireland

Football clubs across country are joining together to celebrate the success of the Kinder + Sport programme, a national initiative delivered by Ferrero and The Football League Trust.

The programme is designed to get children active, promote nutritional education and build awareness of the importanceScreen Shot 2015-08-26 at 14.28.16 of a balanced diet and active lifestyle.  Since the start of the school year, football clubs throughout the UK have been teaming up with primary schools in their area to deliver the + Sport Move and Learn Project to 9-10 year olds, with each session combining 45 minutes of classroom based learning and 45 minutes of physical activity over a 6 week period. The project will reach more than 21,000 children over the 2014/15 school year. To support the programme, club players have acted as ambassadors and participating schools have had the chance to meet players and be involved in match day activities such as half time penalty shoot outs. 

Alongside this, Ferrero has partnered with The Football League as the official sponsor of the Kinder + Sport Kids’ Cup and Kinder + Sport Girls’ Cup, national tournaments for junior footballers across the country which have got a further 20,000 children active and recently culminated in exciting finals at Wembley stadium.

The celebration of a successful year for Kinder + Sport in the UK  is marked by the unveiling of the Kinder + Sport Jump for Joy project, created to encourage children and adults to experience the “Joy of Moving” by capturing their very own jump for joy. 

Players, mascots, fans and children from Kinder + Sport clubs across the UK have been sharing pictures of their jumps, which have all now been combined together into a mosaic of images in the shape of the Kinder + Sport logo.  The mosaic is revealed today at the Kinder + Sport Pavilion at Expo in Milan as part of the celebrations for Expo UK National Day.

 The Jumps for Joy mosaic can be viewed online

Charlie Cayton, Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Ferrero, says: “Celebrating the joy of moving is at the very heart of the Kinder + Sport philosophy. That’s why, as this academic year draws to a close, we want to recognise the hard work and commitment of The Football League Trust and our partners and clubs across the UK and Ireland. Thanks to their dedication, the programme has reached over 41,000 children with over 190,000 hours of activity delivered. We look forward to continuing to work with them and to growing the programme by bringing more clubs on board at the start of the new school year in September.”

Mike Evans, General Manager of The Football League Trust, adds: “We have been working with Ferrero for almost 2 years now to inspire children to lead active lifestyles through the Kinder + Sport programme. We have been overwhelmed by the positive response we have had from the clubs, schools and kids themselves to the initiative. We see it as vitally important that companies such as Ferrero value the health and wellbeing of our future generations, and we’re delighted to be building on the initial success of the project and to continue to grow it next year.”

Notes to editors – About the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn Project

designed to get children active, promote nutritional education and build awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and active lifestyle.

The + Sport Move and Learn Project is a national, school-based, educational programme for children aged 9-10, delivered through football clubs across the UK and Ireland.  Over the course of six 90 minute weekly sessions, children will learn about the body, nutrition, the importance of exercise and food groups and take part in a practical session of football, handball and dodgeball. The content has been developed by nutritional, educational and sporting experts in line with the Government’s Eatwell plate and the National Curriculum for PSHE and Science.

The + Sport Move and Learn Project is delivered in schools across the country in partnership with the Community Trusts of several top football clubs across the UK and The Republic of Ireland. These include Watford FC; Blackburn Rovers; Coventry City; Charlton Athletic; Derby County; Middlesbrough FC; Sheffield United; and Plymouth Argyle.  In Scotland the programme is run in partnership with the Scottish Professional Football League Trust and Rangers and Celtic. The Football Association Ireland has also launched a pilot programme in the Cork area where Ferrero is a major employer, producing 40% of the world’s supply of tic tacs at its Cork factory.

Football Legend Jimmy Armfield Encourages Older Footballer to Walk On, Walk On

Football Legend Jimmy Armfield will kicked off the Football League Trust’s first ever national walking football tournament in Blackpool yesterday

The tournament features over 60 teams who, uniquely, will represent their local Football League Club and play in their quoteofficial colours. The competition is comprised of 5 regional events, with the top two in each region qualifying for the finals which will be played at The FA’s prestigious St George’s Park

This slow-paced version of the beautiful game aimed specifically at the over 50s, Jimmy Armfield comments, “As you get older the opportunity to participate in team sports lessen – ironically at the age when you most need to keep active. Walking Football is designed to help people keep an active lifestyle despite their age, as well as getting those back playing football who had to stop due to injuries. Simply playing 1 hour a week for 3 months enables players to cover 30 miles and burn 4,200 calories!”

Dean Grice, from the Football League Trust comments, “Those dreams you have as a child of playing for your local team never truly go away, so the competition that teams represent in their local club and play in their colours. We are also grateful to The FA for allowing us to use St George’s Park to provide our players with the experience of playing a top class venue.”

Walking Football has grown massively over the last few years and as the name suggests it is non-contact and anyone that sprints, runs or jogs while the ball is in play will be penalised with a free-kick awarded to the other team. The game is played on a pitch 20/40 yards in length and 15/30 yards in width with a size

The North West final consisted of teams representing, Blackpool, Crewe Alexandra, Carlisle United, Rochdale, Fleetwood Town, and Wigan Athletic.   Following a keenly contested group stage Blackpool and Crewe booked their place and at St Georges, with Blackpool just edging a tight final.  

Dean continues, “The competitive spirit on show evident from all the teams but the camaraderie between all the player was brilliant and there was lots of laughter.  We want this tournament to provide the opportunity for friendly competition and to promote and help grow the game. So that more and more older people can benefit from staying active.”

Football League Trust railway safety project wins two Network Rail awards

Football League Trust work improving railway safety in communities across the country has been recognised with a pair of Network Rail Partnership Awards.
The Trust’s rail safety programme was shortlisted in two categories – community engagement and safety – and saw off the competition to win both prizes.

An ongoing partnership between the Trust and Network Rail is using the power of football to educate young people about the potential dangers posed by the railway network.

Community trusts attached to 10 Football League clubs identified as being in areas most in need of rail safety education employ a winning mixture of football, fun and educational workshops to bring home the importance of staying safe on and near to railway lines.

Football League Trust project manager Aiden Couch said: “We believe that this a great collaboration between organisations that fit very well together.

“Our community trusts are uniquely placed to engage with young people in the areas where Network Rail are looking to reduce trespassing and ultimately fatalities on the tracks. This project is doing this in a fun yet challenging way and giving young people access to training and support they would not otherwise receive.”

The work between Network Rail and the club community trusts is ongoing, but results so far point to improved knowledge of rail safety and a positive response from those youngsters taking part.

Network Rail Partnership Awards recognise the help and support given by partners in delivering a better railway for Britain.