"YOUNGSTERS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS"

Diamonds Study Centre Presentation Evening on Monday March 27th.

The Diamonds Study Centre held its Presentation Evenings, with two time slots being set aside, to celebrate the end of the spring term of "Playing for Success" sessions at the centre.

The sessions have been run in the evenings at the Study Centre as part of a national government initiative, which is mirrored at over 130 similar "Playing for Success" centres based at professional sports clubs across the country, with the aims being to improve the children's standards in Numeracy, Literacy and Information Technology as well as to boost their confidence and self-esteem through the use of football related activities.

The scheme involves a partnership between the Department for Education and Skills, Northamptonshire County Council, the Football Foundation and Rushden and Diamonds F.C and the work within the Study Centres has received both local and national recognition!

The Presentation Evenings for the Diamonds Study Centre were held in the Kimberley Suite at Rushden and Diamonds Football Club and the room was full on both occasions as relatives and teachers witnessed 118 youngsters, aged between 9 and 14 years, being presented with certificates and match vouchers by Rushden & Diamonds players Simeon Jackson, Magnus Okuonghae, Lee Tomlin and Ricardo Joseph.

Certificates were also presented to the eight 6^th form mentors from Wrenn School who, voluntarily, gave up their spare time to help the youngsters with their studies and activities this term.

The schools involved in the scheme this term have all come from the Wellingborough area namely from Weavers, Wrenn, Wollaston and Sir Christopher Hatton secondary Schools. Along with Victoria, Hardwick, Ruskin and Oakway Junior Schools.

Study Centre Manager Rob Jones said, "The presentations were superb occasions for all concerned. The youngsters have been a credit to their families and their schools and the feedback regarding the course from the club, the teachers, parents and pupils themselves has been extremely positive. It was also refreshing to see older pupils and adults mentoring the youngsters and any person reading this report who would be willing to assist in the future can ring me at the club for more details!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the head teachers and link teachers for their assistance this term and to commend Rushden and Diamonds Football Club for its involvement with the local community and the support it has given to the Study Centre during this academic year."

As part of the football clubs drive to become financially viable, and be fully sustainable for the future, the Study Centre, along with the Football in the Community department, will be relocating to the Sports Centre during the Easter period. The centre will share the "tactics" room with the club and, in addition to assisting with the further education of the clubs younger players, Barry Hunter and the coaching staff will be able to use the latest technology in their analysis of matches. The Sports Centre will become the "hub" of the football club and the intention is that all of the different parties associated with RDFC will work in partnership to ensure that they serve the needs of the local community.

Rob Jones

(Diamonds Study Centre Manager)