Carl Baker and Ryan Haynes back the new SBitC project, IMPACT...
Sky Blues skipper Carl Baker and defender Ryan Haynes visited a medieval sports day at Warwick Castle last week, attended by families from the Forbes Estate, as part of the Sky Blues in the Community IMPACT project.
The IMPACT project is funded by Warwick District Council for two years and aims to get families from the Forbes estate and St Mary's Land areas of Warwick more active through sport and physical arts. The project started in February this year, with over 400 local residents taking part in a range of activities to date.
Each week there are 12 sessions taking place in the heart of the Forbes estate, for people aged 2 to over 65's. Activities run at a range of local schools, sports clubs and other community venues, and include football, multi-sports, boxing, dance, women's circuit training, yoga and Pilates.
The Warwick Castle fun day offered local families the chance to visit the castle and try their hand at sword fighting, archery and other medieval pastimes - with skipper Baker and young defender Haynes taking part in some of the activities as well as talking to the youngsters about the importance of being active and healthy.
Carl Baker and Ryan Haynes were also joined by the Chairman of Warwick District Council Councillor Richard Davies, Mayor of Warwick Cllr Bob Dhillon and Cllr Stephen Cross, Portfolio Holder for Cultural Services.
Councillor Cross was pleased with the event saying: " It was great to join a large party of families from the Forbes Estate as guests of Warwick Castle. As well as participating in the sports activities, we were able to enjoy the full programme of Warwick Castle’s entertainment events. I am also very pleased with the number of local residents who are taking the opportunity to join the Sky Blues In the Community delivered activities and enjoy the increased social networking. I am sure that by the end of this Warwick District Council project, a continuing legacy will have been established to ensure that the well being of the community is sustained.”
Sky Blues in the Community IMPACT project coordinator Kim Dougherty added "The day was a great success and we had local families with several generations attending. The idea was to promote the activities that are taking place daily as part of the IMPACT project, but also to work with Warwick Castle to open the doors to local people - many of whom haven't been to the castle for years or have never been.
"We must thank Warwick Castle for their support in putting the event on, and Warwick District Council for funding the project - and there are a range of partners and individuals that we work with on a daily basis to put on all of the activities in the Forbes estate area as part of the scheme, which help make it a success."
To find out more about IMPACT, please contact Kim Dougherty on 024 7678 6349 or email kim.dougherty@ccfc.co.uk