Hammers Strike For Thurstable School

WEST Ham United stars scored at Thurstable School Sports College on Tuesday as they celebrated the official launch of GO UK, Jobserve.com's major new £250,000 fund-raising scheme which will bring together business and sport.

The Hammers line-up of striker Bobby Zamora and midfielder Luke Chadwick tried out the state of the art playing pitch at the Thurstable School Sports College's £2.5m sport and leisure facility, which had been opened earlier by Sports Minister Richard Caborn.

"It's absolutely brilliant that the young people at this school and in the wider community will now have the opportunity to benefit from these world-class facilities, "said Bobby, whose own career began at one of the country's first sports academies.

The funding drive for the College's extensive new sports facilities had been first kicked off by Tiptree-based entrepreneur Robbie Cowling, Managing Director of Tiptree's online recruitment firm, Jobserve.com

Now Robbie, whose top-flight company is the official sponsor for West Ham United Football Club, wants to extend the funding drive with a new offer of a share in a jackpot of £250,000 which has been set up to benefit grass-root sports clubs and organisations anywhere in the country.

Called GO UK, the scheme is now up and running and Jobserve.com, which will deal with 12 million applications this year, will allocate up to £1 to new job-seekers to donate to a participating sporting organisation or group of the candidate's choice.

"It was clear there was a need for new sports facilities here in Tiptree and thought that more could be done if a successful link could be forged between business and the community so that our brand awareness could be raised whilst improving sports facilities locally," said Robbie.

"Now we want to raise our game and extend the offer of funds to any organisation that provides sporting activities up and down the country and who will undoubtedly benefit from improved sports facilities.

"Business is crying out for skilled team players - and what better place to start than with schools and sports teams who need a little financial push just to get going."

There are more details about GO UK and how to apply for a share of the £250,000 funding on the Jobserve.com website www.jobserve.com

Among the first to benefit from GO UK was Great Totham Primary School in Essex who received a cheque for over £3,000 from the West Ham players at the launch. Other organisations  including Thurstable School Sports College, Colchester United Sports Trust and Colchester and Tendring Athletic Club have all gained from the first pilot funding round.