Summer's arrived at Stafford Borough |
Rural Stafford comes ‘5 Alive’ this Summer!
The scheme started on Monday 21 July, and runs through until Friday 22 August 2008. There are two sessions each day running from 10am to 12noon, and from 1pm to 3pm, and sessions are open to anyone aged 8 to 14 years.
5 Alive is a FREE fun based project that will be centred around sport and the arts. A wide variety of activities will be on offer to all children who attend this course. Just turn up at the centre and register on the day (a parent or guardian will need to sign the form), and you can start enjoying your summer fun!
Pictured above: Nathan Grant (13), Jack Roberts (13), Shawn Jones (14), Matt Barnfather (12), Jules Kendrick (Sports Coordinator), Niall Grant (11)
There is also a special needs inclusion project running in conjunction with this scheme, which is supported by The Big Lottery Fund and the Community Council of Staffordshire. This project enables children aged 8 to 14 with special needs to attend the mainstream 5 Alive scheme with suitable support. It is essential that you phone Clare Newton on 01785 619308 prior to attending the session to discuss your exact requirements. Alternatively email: cnewton@staffordbc.gov.uk.
The 5 Alive scheme runs at Christchurch Middle School in Stone on Mondays, St Lawrence Primary School in Gnosall on Tuesdays, Haughton Village Hall on Wednesdays, Bishop Lonsdale School in Eccleshall on Thursdays, and at Anson Primary School in Great Haywood on Fridays.
For more information contact Jenny Moore on 01785 619565 or email jmoore@staffordbc.gov.uk
“Stafford Borough Council is committed to ensuring that there is a great choice of affordable activities for youngsters in the community over the summer”, said Mike Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure, “and the new heritage activities at the High House, Castle and Izaak Walton’s Cottage, are proving extremely popular.”
Pick up a copy of Get Out, the essential guide to activities in and around Stafford over the summer months, or down load a copy at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/getout for some great ideas on how to have a fun-packed holiday this summer.
Other activities include: creative heritage workshops at Stafford Castle, The Ancient High House and Stafford Castle; Summer Drama Workshop at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre; activities and fun at Stafford Leisure Centre with Extended Schools Activities; sports and fun passes at Alleyne’s Sports Centre; and an exciting range of sports courses from mountain biking and netball to golf and Star Track Athletics.
Also keep an eye out for the mobile skate park which will be visiting Stone, Hixon, Stafford and Gnosall over the coming weeks, or alternatively visit one of your local parks (Rowley, Westbridge, Victoria or Wildwood) and experience a whole range of fun and exciting activity sessions delivered by qualified play rangers. Sessions are for 8 to 15 year olds between 1.00pm and 5.00pm and will run Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at Rowley and Victoria Parks and Mondays & Thursdays at Wildwood and Westbridge Parks. Tel 01785 619308 for more information.
Summer Star:track 2008
As part of Stafford Borough Council’s summer holiday activity scheme, the Leisure Services Sport Development team, building on the success of previous years, have organised two weeks of Star:track Athletics. And once again, the scheme is proving to be hugely popular.
Over 80 aspiring young athletes aged between 8 and 15 have already signed up to benefit from professional coaching in a variety of running, jumping and throwing events. ‘Sporting Champion’, James Hiller, who won the Commonwealth Games Silver Medal with the 4 x 400m relay team in 2002, will be visiting the young athletes on Friday 1st August, and inspiring them to achieve to the best of their ability.
James Hillier
“Sporting Champions is a Sport England initiative, which brings world-class athletes face-to-face with young people to inspire and motivate them to participate in sport,” explains Mike Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure.
Clare Newton, Athletics Development Officer for Leisure Services added, “Star:track attracts a range of ability levels from beginners to national standard junior athletes and everyone that goes along, enjoys the friendly atmosphere and fun based competition structure which is typical of the Star:track programme.
“And this year, a high coach athlete ratio, will enable the delivery of a good quality athletics programme.”
The final day will take the form of a team competition, ending with a grand prix relay event, followed by presentations made by James Hillier. Awards will be given to a range of athletes, from those showing the best attitude throughout the scheme, to those who have improved the most, and also for the winning team.
For more information on how to sign up, please contact Clare Newton on 01785 619308 or email cnewton@staffordbc.gov.uk. Alternatively, information is contained within the 2008 Get Out brochure, which can be downloaded at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/getout.
0-16’s Swim Free this Summer!
If you are aged 0 to 16-years, or if you are an adult accompanying a 0 to 16 year old to Stafford Leisure Centre or Alleyne’s Sports Centre this summer, you will swim for free!
Stafford Borough Council Leisure Services and Stafford and Surrounds Locality Commissioning Group have come together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to keep fit for free between Monday 21 July and Friday 29 August 2008. Normal prices are £1.70 per 1hr child session and £3.40 per 1hr adult session, so this really is a great opportunity to stay fit for less this July and August.
Pictured above: Olivia Clifford
As part of this scheme to prevent ill health and to promote well being for all, the PBC and Stafford Borough Council have come together to offer all 0 to 16 year olds, along with an accompanying adult, the opportunity to swim for free at Stafford Leisure Centre or at Alleyne’s Sports Centre in Stone over the summer holidays.
The Stafford and Surrounds PBC are also providing Adult and Families Weight Management programmes, and programmes to help individuals to stop smoking. The group are also commissioning services to reduce health inequalities and improve life expectancy through such projects as ‘The Signpost Centre’ in Highfields and now the Stafford Community Shop, which will be open very soon in the Guildhall Shopping Centre.
Session Times will run from Monday to Friday, 10am to 12noon. Simply turn up at Stafford Leisure Centre or Alleyne’s Sports Centre, and register at reception to gain entry to your free session.
Steve Powell, Chair of the Stafford and Surrounds PBC Group commented, “We are supporting many local projects to maximise health benefits in Stafford and Surrounds. As part of our Health and Wellbeing Programme (Choosing Health) we are only too pleased to be working in partnership with Stafford Borough Council’s Leisure Services to provide free swimming to families and young people during the school holidays. We hope that local people will take this offer up and encourage people to become active for life.”
Mike Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure added, “We are really pleased to be able to offer these free swim sessions, this is a great opportunity for the young people of Stafford and surrounds to get active. The Government are pushing free swims for under 16s, and it’s fantastic that through our partnership with the PBC Group we are able to get ahead of the game this summer.”
There is no limit on the number of sessions you can attend, so come along and have a splashing time in Stafford and Stone this summer!
"Health and fitness is on everybody's agenda at the moment so we anticipate that the free sessions will be very popular," commented Adam Hill, Head of Leisure. "Keen swimmers should get there early to guarantee their spot."
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