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on the ball pupils raise cash with charity shootout

ByDave Stopher

Jun 13, 2018

A LOCAL MP has helped sporting pupils kick off a Soccer Aid Playground Challenge to raise money for children around the world.

Students at Springfield Academy, part of The Education Village Academy Trust, Darlington, joined MP Jenny Chapman as they dribbled and bounced a ball around an obstacle course in aid of the Unicef sponsored event.

Principal Richard Gartland said: “We received a letter from Jenny asking if our school would be interested in taking part in the Unicef Soccer Aid Playground Challenge.

“As a Unicef ‘Rights Respecting’ school, which places the UN Convention on the Rights of Children at the heart of our ethos and curriculum, we were delighted to get involved and even more thrilled when Jenny said that she would along come and join us for the event.

“Our year 5 School Sports Organising Crew designed the obstacle courses, with help from our PE and Extended Schools co-ordinator Katie Hall, and the whole school, from nursery to year 6 pupils, took part in what was a fantastic event.”

Over 200 pupils, assisted by Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation project worker Rachel Horsley, showed off their passing and shooting skills raising just under £60 for the charity. 

After successfully scoring her own penalty kick, the Darlington MP said: “Springfield’s soccer aid event has been fantastic.

“The academy really embraced the idea, ran with it and raised both money and awareness for children living in poverty across the world.

“It has also been great to see the school’s young sports leaders getting involved and helping to plan the event which has been such a great success.”

School Sports Organising Crew member and midfielder for Middleton Rangers Grace Alderson, 10, helped design the football related obstacle course alongside year 5 pupils Aaron Bridges, Jessica Turner, Joshua Irwin and Sakina Aktas.

“I really enjoy playing and watching football so it was great helping to plan the Soccer Aid challenge for the whole school,” she said. “Everyone enjoyed it and it has helped raise money for a really good cause.”