Leon Clarke and Blair Adams backed the launch of a new project in Warwick...
Coventry City striker Leon Clarke and defender Blair Adams visited Newburgh Primary School in Warwick this week to help launch a health and wellbeing project for local residents.
The Warwick District Council initiative will see Coventry City’s charitable trust Sky Blues in the Community offer a range of sport and physical arts activities for people of all ages in the Forbes Estate area of Warwick.
Sky Blues in the Community were one of over 30 not-for-profit organisations to submit their project ideas to the council outlining a range of activities to improve levels of physical activity, health and wellbeing in the area over a two year period. The range and diversity of the Sky Blues activities specifically appealed to the WDC selection committee.
The project will see the Sky Blues community scheme working closely with a number of council departments, alongside local schools, sports clubs, community groups and other key stakeholders to offer a range of sport, physical activity and physical arts activities at venues in and around the Forbes Estate area.
Warwick District Council’s Culture Portfolio Holder Councillor Stephen Cross said: “We have now had several meetings with the Sky Blues in the Community team and have finalised phase 1 of the programme delivery. I see this as an exciting project for the whole of the local community with the priority to improve cardio vascular fitness and physical competencies and increase activity levels through involvement in sport and Arts activities. The intention to provide training opportunities is also very important in ensuring that there will be a continuing legacy established and that the well being of the community will be sustained.”
Former Sky Blues defender David Busst said “We were delighted to have been successful with this exciting opportunity and to be working in partnership with Warwick District Council.
“Our portfolio of activities hopefully provides something that will interest most residents in the area. We want people to understand that we are more than just football.
“We will be working with local sports clubs and local instructors from a of disciplines to offer people aged 2-92 the chance to try activities including a variety of sports, dance, salsa, Pilates, yoga, tai chi, free running – the list goes on.”
Developing local volunteers was also at the heart of the Sky Blues in the Community bid, with Busst adding: “We want to work with local people to promote volunteering, training and development amongst the residents – both to support the delivery of our activities, but also to provide them with skill sets for wider employment opportunities and to sustain the activity in the long-term.”
Sky Blues duo Clarke and Adams visited a healthy lifestyles programme delivered at Newburgh School to see the project in action and take questions from pupils about the lifestyle of an elite athlete.
For more information on the range of activities on offer within the project, please contact project coordinator Kim Dougherty on 024 7678 6349 or email kim.dougherty@ccfc.co.uk