Launch of our new After School Support Programme
Primary school children who may not ordinarily have the chance to take part in extracurricular football training will be able to join the new scheme scheme.
Pupils from pilot school Rouge Bouillon will kick off the new FREE after school club this month, and will then enjoy a structured football coaching programme throughout the school year from a qualified Jersey Bulls FC coach. The pilot is sponsored by professional services firm Ogier and it is hoped that more businesses will come forward to help extend the scheme.
The sessions will be fun and inclusive for boys and girls of all abilities; but also aims to improve technique and help build confidence for all participants. The children will also receive a Foundation branded sports top and match day tickets for their families to cheer on Jersey Bulls FC at Springfield.
Foundation director, Jonathon Buesnel, said:
"We are very excited to introduce the new After School Support Programme which further demonstrates how seriously Jersey Bulls FC takes its community engagement responsibilities through our new charitable foundation. Selected schools will receive a much needed sporting resource for free; their pupils get to experience high level coaching in a fun environment and families benefit from a free after school club. Ultimately, we hope that this leads to happier and healthier children who also go on to become part of our Jersey Bulls family."
The pilot at Rouge Bouillon School will focus on their Year 4 pupils. PE lead at Rouge Bouillion, Andre Le Rossignol, welcomes the assistance of the Jersey Bulls and Ogier, and said:
"I am delighted that Ogier and the Jersey Bulls Community Foundation are providing this opportunity, as pupils' Health and Wellbeing are high priorities at Rouge Bouillon. As a town school with busy working parents from a wide range of cultures, we recognise that many of our pupils may not have easy or regular access to outdoor play-spaces or clubs outside of school. The cost of external sport clubs can also prove a financial barrier to children's participation. The After School Support programme means that we are able to provide free and inclusive high quality and fun extra-curricular football sessions throughout the year for a large number of pupils."
Ogier is one of Rouge Bouillon School's corporate partners, supporting its pupils since 2017 in the Every Child our Future Ready to Read programme. Ogier's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Nicola Carroll said:
"We are thrilled to support the launch of the Jersey Bulls Community Foundation After School Support Programme at Rouge Bouillon School. The programme's mission to provide inclusive and accessible sporting activities for everyone, regardless of gender, ability, background or circumstances, reflects our firm's CSR commitment to support individuals in our community facing barriers to thrive. Given our long-standing partnership with Rouge Bouillon, we're especially excited that they are the inaugural school to benefit from this initiative."
The pilot scheme is only possible through the generous support of Ogier. If other firms and institutions would like to help see other primary schools benefit from the Foundation's After School Support Programme, please contact foundation@bulls.je
