On Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th May 2024, Blackpool FC Community Trust invited all Blackpool primary schools to bring their Year 4 classes to the Blackpool FC stadium to take part in the 2024 Fit2Go Festival over two days.
This year for the first time since 2019, the children were able to participate in games such as football and handball on the pitch at Bloomfield Road, and the response when the schools arrived at the stadium was exciting to stay the least. It was amazing to finally get to utilise the pitch again this year and create such a unique experience for all the pupils that attended, and the positive reaction to such a great opportunity was seen throughout the two days at the festival.
The festival is an opportunity for the children to celebrate the completion of the 6-week healthy lifestyle programme Fit2Go, and to take part in a variety of activities around the stadium. The festival was a huge success with 23 schools and over 1,200 children attending. All the children and school staff had a great time motivating each other while taking part in activities, as the sun shone down over Bloomfield Road.
The emphasis on the day is fun, participation, and engagement, and by utilising areas in the stadium and on the pitch, where they played football and handball, and participated in some dance in the 53 suite. Some schools even took the opportunity to have lunch in the stands when they had finished their activities or were awaiting the afternoon session.
Roger Farley, Headteacher from Roseacre Primary Academy said,
“We are absolutely thrilled to be at Bloomfield Road, the home of Blackpool FC, with our Year 4 children taking part in the Fit2Go Festival. Our Year 4’s were so excited about coming, not just for the football, but for the experience of being in the stadium and taking part in all the different activities that the Community Trust have put on for us. It’s been an absolutely amazing opportunity.”
We would like to say a big thank you to all the schools that were able to attend the 2-day event, and Blackpool FC for allowing us to use the Club facilities.
The festival is organised by the Health & Wellbeing Team with the support of some other departments in the Community Trust.
Simon Smith, Primary PE and Health & Wellbeing Manager said,
“It has been brilliant this year to be able to get back on the pitch for the Festival, as it adds so much to the quality of the day and the event as a whole. It is such a unique experience, and we are grateful to showcase the event on the pitch. Thank you to the club and the ground staff for helping this to become a reality this year. It was great for all to see the impact and enjoyment that the pupils experienced.”
