The Power of Football to get even more kids moving!

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EFL Trust launches the third year of the +Sport Move and Learn Project, in partnership with Ferrero and local EFL Clubs.

Ferrero, EFL Trust and its network of 22 Club Trusts which include Sheffield United FC and Derby County are today announcing that they are embarking on the third year of their partnership to get even more children moving through a primary schools programme that uses the power of football to encourage children to take part in physical activity, while helping them to understand the importance of a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.

The +Sport Move and Learn Project is part of Ferrero’s global Kinder + Sport initiative designed to encourage active lifestyles in children across the world that has already reached over 15 million children. To date, the programme has been delivered locally by football club trusts in 776 schools, with 43,577 children impacted. To build on this success, this year 615 schools and approximately 37,000 children will be reached.

Over the course of six weeks, children from Year 5 classes spend 45 minutes in the classroom learning about the body, nutrition and the importance of exercise, through participating in interactive activities. The second half of the 90 minute session is dedicated to playing football, dodgeball or handball, with two weeks spent on each sport.

Anthony Jones, Ashgate Primary School, Derby has said “The Kinder + Sport Move and Learn project has had huge benefits to our school and pupils, educating them on nutrition and an active lifestyle. It’s great that the kids have enjoyed the physical activity which is so important at that age, and the variety of activities such as dodgeball. Look forward to more in the future!”

Football Players are key to the delivery of the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn Programme, offering a unique way of engaging children and delivering key messages. Sheffield United Community Foundation Health Ambassador, England U21s and Blades goalkeeper George Long, is a huge supporter of the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn Project, saying “It’s vital that we educate children from a young age on a healthy diet and encourage an active lifestyle. The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn Programme is a really fun and interactive project engaging thousands of children each year. I’m extremely proud to be able to support such an important programme”.

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A spokesperson from Ferrero said: “Since launching Kinder + Sport in the UK two years ago, we have moved over 100,000 children as a result. Active children are more likely to grow into active adults, so we are passionate about inspiring future generations in communities across the UK to get active and live well. The EFL Trust is the perfect partner; football clubs are at the heart of their communities and engage and inspire people from all generations – and this is exactly what we want to do with Kinder + Sport in the UK.”

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Mike Evans, Director of Operations at the EFL Trust said: “We’ve been working with Ferrero for three years now and seeing the programme go from strength to strength is incredible. The power of sport and the club badge allows our network of community trusts to deliver key messages, such as tackling obesity, to reach out to the wider community. This investment in helping to get future generations living well is invaluable and we look forward to continuing to work with Ferrero and our own network.

The Joy of Moving!

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Working with our network of EFL Community Trusts we have ‘moved’ over 27,000 kids through the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn project this academic year.

Now in its second year the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn Project has had an increase in delivery hours to 243,000, and more importantly 60% more kids have been moved compared to last year. Over 450 schools have benefited from this programme, knowing that the educating children on nutrition and physical activity is vital from a young age.

By combining six weeks of practical sporting sessions with classroom sessions, the programme encourages physical activity, promotes nutritional education and builds awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and active lifestyle.moveandlearn21

Aiden Couch, Project Manager at the EFL Trust is delighted with the growth of the programme; “Since we launched our partnership with Kinder + Sport in the UK in 2013, we’ve been delighted to see our work grow significantly in scale and impact. In partnership with Ferrero we are tackling pressing issues such as inactivity, obesity and the lack of understanding about nutrition and balanced lifestyles.”

Football is used throughout the programme as a unique way to engage kids, allowing us to project the key messages across to the community. During the football season, schools and pupils are invited to their local professional football club on a match day to take penalties at the club mascot during half time… a memory that kids won’t forget too quickly! As well as that, football players from the clubs take time out to visit schools and talk to pupils about the diet of a professional athlete followed by carrying out a Q&A session.

Chris Baird, Derby County’s Captain, visited Ashgate Primary School alongside Derby defender Ryan Shotton. Baird Comments, “It’s important for any kid growing up to get the guidance from teachers and parents, but we too can have a role to play in assisting kids in making the right choices for themselves.”

Anthony Jones, Ashgate Primary School “The Kinder + Sport Move and Learn project has had huge benefits to our school and pupils, educating them on nutrition and an active lifestyle. It’s great that the kids have enjoyed the physical activity which is so important at that age, they particularly enjoyed the variety of activities on offer such as dodge-ball!  We look forward to delivering more Move and Learn to our students in the future!”

The Kinder + Sport is just another example of how the power of sport can help tackle societies issues.

Local MP Andrew Griffiths Backs Project!

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Burton MP Andrew Griffiths dropped into a Burton school to take a first-hand look at The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn project which is now into its second year of delivery and aims at encouraging youngsters to adopt a healthier lifestyles.

Burton Town Community Trust are one of 13 clubs that deliver the project alongside The Football League Trust which has had over 40,000 school children aged 9-10 moving and learning in its first successful year of delivery.

Riverview Primary School is one of hundreds of schools that take part in the Kinder +Sport Move and Learn project across the country.

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Local MP Andrew Griffiths was impressed with the project.

He said: “It was great to see Burton Albion Community Trust doing what it does best – engaging with young people in schools. It builds the right kind of mentality and will help ensure these kids grow up being healthy and knowing what’s good for them”.

Richard Laming, from sponsors Ferrero, added: “What we love about the project is the way it brings together education about health and diet with a sports activity outside the classroom. It was great to see it being delivered at Riverview and all the happy faces of the youngsters”.

Riverview head teacher Mandy Whitehouse said: “We have a problem with obesity, so hopefully this will give the children the skills to take into secondary school and be healthier in adult life”.

Andy Taylor, head of community at BACT, said: “The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn project has been a big success and we are delighted that it has been so well received at Riverview”.

To find out more about The Football League Trust’s Kinder +Sport Move and Learn Project click here.

Joe Cole Helps Get Kids Healthy

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Coventry City’s Joe Cole and Aaron Martin visited St. John’s Primary School in Allesley yesterday, helping educate local children on the value of a healthy lifestyle.

Sky Blues in the Community are one of 16 Football League clubs who deliver the Kinder Plus Sport ‘Move and Learn’ project as part of the Football League Trust’s healthy living and sports initiative, sponsored by Fererro.
SBitC were one of the original eight Football League clubs to deliver the project which aims to educate children on the values of eating right and living well.

Coventry City players Joe Cole and Aaron Martin Visit St John's C of E Primary school in Coventry for a Q&A with the children.Joe meets fan Harry Clasper and Head teacher Gary Watson.

Coventry City players Joe Cole and Aaron Martin Visit St John’s C of E Primary school in Coventry for a Q&A with the children.Joe meets fan Harry Clasper and Head teacher Gary Watson.

The project will have been rolled out to over 30 schools across Coventry and Warwickshire by the summer which includes activities such as football, dodgeball and handball, and is free to schools.
SBitC Director Guy Rippon said: “We’re delighted to see Joe and Aaron helping us deliver the programme across the Coventry and Warwickshire area.

“It is a project which we were pioneers in as we were one of the first to deliver it in the country last academic year and we’ve seen it go from strength and strength.

“They’re in the middle of the six-week project and the players were there taking questions from pupils and hopefully inspiring pupils to improve their lifestyle.”

Coventry City defender Aaron Martin said: “I’ve always enjoyed getting out in the local community during my time at the club as it is an important part of being a professional footballer.
“The pupils had some great questions for us and it is an important project for children as eating properly is vital for your development in sport and education.
“It is great to see some of the good work in the local community and it’s great to see more children interested in Coventry City this season.”