PARALYMPIAN Liz Johnson visited Earlsdon Primary School to talk about a project being held in conjunction with next year’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The gold medallist and Channel 4 sports commentator spoke to pupils about the Commonwealth Connections programme, aimed at developing sports leadership among children and young people across the region.
The sessions are a part of the official Birmingham 2022 Youth Programme, funded by Youth Sport Trust and delivered by the British Council.
In total, six Coventry schools have forged a partnership with six more schools in Zambia as part of this project – Earlsdon Primary, Finham Park 2, Coundon Court, Moseley Primary, Riverbank Academy and Corpus Christi Primary to give young people knowledge and understanding of the Commonwealth and its values.
The unique project is being hosted across the West Midlands and countries across the Commonwealth, enabling the the schools and their pupils to take part in a range of sporting, cultural and citizenship projects.
By using ‘school twinning’, it provides educational opportunities for young people and teachers to develop knowledge and understanding of the Commonwealth and its values, allowing young people to shape their communities.
Coun Kamran Caan, the city council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, visited the school to chat to the children and Liz and said the work being done by the Commonwealth Games team with Coventry’s schools to help the children’s futures was ‘amazing’.
“The children will get first-hand experience of leadership and communication in sports, physical activity and arts settings which will be brilliant for their mental and physical wellbeing.
“Together with that, it supports children and young people of all abilities which is always a focus for us here in Coventry.”
Darren Coyle MBE, the British Council’s Programme Director, praised the six Coventry schools, adding: “Their commitment to equip young people with the knowledge and understanding of the Commonwealth and its values in the lead up to 2022 Commonwealth Games is to be commended.”
And Rebecca Bollands, from Earlsdon Primary, added it was a ‘huge honour’ and everyone was looking forward to collaborating with schools in Zambia and developing their students’ sport leadership skills. Visit birmingham2022.com/youth-programme/ for more on the programme.
