First group of students receive Playing for Success Certificates

On Thursday 10th April at Carlisle United Football Club's Foxy's Restaurant at 6pm the first group of pupils from the 'Playing for Success' project at the new Study Support Centre, will be presented with their certificates of achievement. Cumbria Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership teamed up with Carlisle United Football Club earlier this year to open the Study Centre at the Club to raise literacy and numeracy skills of local children up to the age of 16. 

Many guests have been invited to the presentation evening including the pupil's families and friends, Head teachers and teachers, Nat West Bank Management Committee, representatives from Cumbria Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership and the Director of Education John Nellist. Pupils will be presented with certificates of achievement and a 'goody bag' from some of Carlisle United's football players who have also been encouraging the youngsters throughout their 10-week course. The first children to benefit from the project are from Thomlinson Junior School in Wigton and Newtown Community School in Carlisle. 

County Councillor Joan Stocker, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education says 

"It is wonderful to see the first set of pupils achieve their 'Playing for Success' certificates. We find that tuning into youngsters' interests is a very effective way to encourage children to take up learning opportunities in an environment other than their local school. This project is entirely consistent with the Council's priority for working in partnership with other interested parties to support projects that aim to raise educational standards for all young people in the area. I am sure that many more pupils will benefit from using the new centre and I am delighted that Cumbria County Council is supporting them." 

Keith Clark, Centre Manager, is looking forward to the first presentation evening. He says, 

"We have been most impressed with the way in which the young people attending Carlisle United Study Centre have been motivated to learn out of school hours. We hope that making learning fun will have a marked effect on their attainment in literacy, numeracy and ICT skills. We particularly thank the participating schools and parents for their support. This is our first presentation evening and we look forward to many more."