240 youngsters decend on the seaside to watch the Olympic sailing through One Goal initiative
Almost 250 people were blown away by the chance to see Olympic sailing thanks to a major new community sport and activity programme in Coventry.
A group of 240 people from Coventry, ranging from babies and schoolchildren to parents and grandparents, were treated to the trip to Weymouth and Portland for the Olympic sailing thanks to the One Goal initiative.
One Goal, which aims to raise aspirations and give opportunities to disadvantaged families in the city, is a partnership between Coventry City Football Club and Coventry Sports Foundation. It is also drawing on support from other organisations such as Sky Blues in the Community and sponsors.
During the trip to the south coast, which included youngsters from nine schools in the city, were also given the opportunity to try their hands at sailing and canoeing.
The youngsters were chosen for the trip as a result of applying to take part in One Goal’s Summer Blast activities earlier in the year.
Wendy Jackson, community development manager at Coventry Sports Foundation, said: “This is a fantastic example of the kind of benefits the One Goal programme can offer to young people and communities in Coventry who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience these sorts of activities.
“One of the children on the trip had never been to the seaside before, let alone sailed, so this underlines the type of impact the One Goal initiative can have on families – particularly children.
“It was a magnificent day out for all of the families involved and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”
The summer blast of activities for local school children is now underway at the Alan Higgs Centre through the One Goal initiative.
For further information on the One Goal project visit www.covsf.com or call 02476 856956.