With the Olympic Games now over, local MP Gordon Marsden has been getting in the sporty spirit at one of the annual summer camps organised by Blackpool FC Community Trust.
He was invited to Hawes Side Academy, and like the successful stars of Team GB in Rio, the Community Trust has exceeded all its expectations with hundreds of local children attending the camps throughout the school summer holidays.
Gordon was shown around by Marc Joseph, the Trust’s Senior Health and Education Officer and chatted to some of the children, who were playing football, dodgeball and a number of different activities.
He said: “It was great to be outside in the sunshine and see all the children enjoying themselves and getting involved in the camp. At Hawes Side, they were expecting around 70 youngsters but they have far exceeded that with some days having up to 140 children attending.
“Like our Olympic stars, the summer camps are proving more and more successful each time – that is a testament to the enthusiasm and hard work of all the staff at the Community Trust. The wide range of activities mean all the children taking part are having a great time and they take away a lot from it.”
Gordon said he was pleased to see the Community Trust working in “cooperation” with schools such as Hawes Side Academy, as well as others in the town to help make the summer camps the success they were.
Along with the more traditional sporting activities, the children, including Gordon tried their hands at some circus tricks with Yuri Gridneff from Blackpool Circus School. It was a case of déjà vu for the local MP, who in the past volunteered with Yuri and some of his circus activities.
Gordon, who is also Labour’s Shadow Minister for Skills also spoke to a couple of the camp’s volunteers, who were helping out as part of BTEC Qualifications they were doing with the Trust.
Marc Joseph, the Trust’s Senior Health and Education Officer said: “We were pleased for Gordon to see the Sports Camps in action and hear about all of the other great work that Blackpool FC Community Trust are doing to make opportunities like this available to everyone in the town.
“The Summer Camps are an excellent provision for the people of Blackpool. The camps offer affordable childcare for 5-14 year olds at just £10 per day; from 8 o’clock in the morning until 5pm each evening; throughout the school holidays.”
