The Rams Family Support project was kickstarted today at Derby County Community Trust’s October half term coaching sessions.
Under-21 squad members Will Grewal-Pollard and Osazee Aghatise headed to Rykneld Sports Centre in Mackworth, to meet participants taking part in footballing and food related activities.
Holiday coaching has been a cornerstone of the Community Trust’s delivery throughout their history, but more recently, their approach has adapted to include the provision of healthy lunches to ensure children who are usually in receipt of free school meals are catered for during school holidays.
While government funding is available in the longer school holidays, at Christmas, Easter and throughout summer, the Community Trust’s board of trustees have taken the decision to fund this provision throughout the 2022/23 academic year to ensure this help is available through October, February and May half terms.
Forming the first part of the Rams Family Support project, which will be in place throughout the winter months to aid families in reaction to the rising cost of living, over 100 families will benefit over the October break.
The players took part in a question-and-answer session with children on the course and provided children with a signed autograph card as a memento from the day.
Midfielder Aghatise said: “It’s really important to be out here in the community, sessions like this are where it started for so many of us, just getting to play with friends, so to know that these groups are running is great, and if we can provide them with some inspiration and put a smile on their faces then that’s amazing.”
Defender Grewal-Pollard added: “The free school meal movement that Rashford brought attention to over the last couple of years was so powerful and seeing that the Community Trust can help families in Derby to not have to worry about their children’s meals during the half term is really important.”
Participants on the Rams Family Support sessions also received recipe cards and ingredients as part of the new programme, with all meals being made to cater to ‘feed four for a fiver’. All recipes will be made available online through the Community Trust website.
Rams Family Support half term sessions are running across the Community Trust’s Schools and Coaching and Inclusion departments, with delivery taking place at Rykneld Sports Centre, Mackworth; Da Vinci Academy, Chaddesden; and Arboretum Park, Normanton, this half term.
The project will be made up of a wide range of initiatives designed to lessen the burden on families this winter, including the relaunch of the Food Donation Hub on behalf of Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance at Pride Park Stadium this November.
More information about delivery across upcoming school holidays can be found via the Rams Family Support section on the Derby County Community Trust website, along with further information about the wider project and how families can benefit from, and support, the various activities taking place this winter.
