Paralympian visits school and pupils hear inspirational talk

 

Sporting Champion, Stephen Thomas led an inspirational talk and motivated the students of  Pye Green Valley Primary School in Hednesford in their Team building and Problem Solving Challenges this term. The afternoon was led by the School Sport Co-ordinator and Sports Leaders from Blake Valley Technology College.

 

 

An inspirational talk from a top Paralympian has helped boost the team building skills of a Staffordshire primary school. Stephen Thomas spoke to over 60 Yr 6 students at Pye Green Valley School about how he overcame the challenges after a double – leg amputation when he contracted meningitis at the age of 18.

He went on to represent GB in Sledge Hockey in the 2006 Paralympics Winter Games and Sailing in Athens in 2004 and Beijing this year.

 

Sporting Champion, Stephen Thomas, with Staffordshire pupils from Pye Green primary school  

 

After his talk, students followed a circuit of team building and problem solving challenges led by Blake Valley Sports Leaders.

Rose Brown School Sport Co-ordinator from the Cannock and Rugeley School Sport Partnership said; "Stephen's talk was not only inspirational but a real motivation for the children to set themselves challenges in their daily lives and strive to achieve their best. The Yr 6 class were working on 'Exhibition Everest' as their theme this term and aiming to participate in one new physical activity they had not previously tried, or to set themselves a new challenge, or a target to achieve in their existing sporting activities.

Stephen Thomas left the children with his motto:

"Don’t let thing happen, make things happen, be in control of your dreams."

 

For more information contact:

Rose Brown
SSCO
Cannock and Rugeley School Sport Partnership
T: 07752522339
E: rosebrown@hotmail.co.uk

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Sporting Champions available to be at your SPORT!

Sporting Champions are keen to encourage the NGB’s to become involved in the scheme. Do you know of any clubs in your area who would benefit from the advice and motivation that an elite Athlete can bring?  

Sporting Champions are looking for each sport to nominate 3 clubs or 3 events which will benefit from a visit by a Sporting Champion, especially those clubs in the West Midlands who have recently received Club Accreditation or are working towards it.

Sporting Champions would like to open the scheme to as many sporting avenues as possible and give the opportunity to all young people in your area to benefit from a unique one-to-one experience with a fully trained world class athlete.

Please help the West Midlands athletes, clubs, volunteers, coaches to bring some of the best athletes the West Midlands has to offer to a club or venue near you soon.

Also if you have a Sporting Champion of the highest quality in your sport and would like to nominate them then please contact Louise Calton at www.sportingchampions.org.uk who will be able to update you about recruitment and opportunities

Sporting Champions is FREE of charge and can be arranged very easily through your County Sports Partnership. Click here for an application form. 

Yours in sport

 

Rob Tarr
West Midlands Regional Team Leader

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Free visits are also available for:

• The Sport Unlimited programme
• School and club links events
• Leadership and volunteering events
• Club visits eg. a reward for a club who has been awarded "Community Club of the Year". They may benefit from a visit at their club to inspire the young members?

Please remember that the aim of the scheme is to increase youth participation in community sport and that the Sporting Champion scheme does not support award ceremonies as feedback indicates that Champions have more impact when they are able to interact with the young people through coaching and question & answer sessions and most awards ceremonies don't have provision for this.

To find out more or visit www.sportingchampions.org.uk to apply for a visit click here 

Leigh Morton 
Admin Officer
T: 01785 619349 
E: lmorton@staffordbc.gov.uk