West Ham United Foundation are helping to facilitate ‘Super Movers for Every Body’, alongside BBC Education, the Premier League and ParalympicsGB, with first-team defender Vladimir Coufal showing his support for the campaign on a recent visit to Bobby Moore Academy Primary School.
Launching today, Tuesday 30 April, the initiative seeks to help bring inclusive sport and physical activity to primary schools across the UK, ahead of this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris – the first time the event will be staged in Europe since London 2012.
Sitting in the shadow of the venues that hosted the likes of Great Britain stars Hannah Cockroft and Ellie Simmonds, both of whom are supporting the new initiative, the Bobby Moore Academy welcomed Coufal in a recent visit with the ‘Super Movers for Every Body’ campaign.
Using the power of sport to reach and develop confident young disabled people and empower allies across primary schools, the UEFA Europa Conference League-winning defender was proud to be part of the initiative and took time alongside BBC Education to showcase his own ‘Super Move’ – a crossed Hammers, of course.
Coufal said: “I like to support the community the Club is based in as much as I can – and I wanted to make sure the children know how important it is to stay active, keep moving, and also support each other whatever level of sport you are playing at.
“Team-building is such an important part of sport and we want to make sure the next generation of sports stars are working to help each other enjoy being active and encourage the message that sport is for everyone.”
Coufal’s visit to the school also saw pupils design training shirts ahead of the Foundation’s awareness fixture last weekend, with ‘Year 3 super movers’ Karson and Kiyana designing the training tops of Hammers Lucas Paquetá and Kalvin Phillips.
When asked what he made of the visit from Coufal and the Super Movers session, Karson said: “I was really shocked to see him. I am a big West Ham fan so I didn’t know what to do when I met him. He was really cool!”
Kiyana was similarly shocked and said: “He was nice and I had lots of fun doing the super moves!”
As part of the campaign, the Premier League will be supplying equipment packs to 4,000 primary schools across the UK, to empower staff to deliver accessible activities and lessons. BBC Teach will also host inspiring, engaging and informative online learning resources featuring Paralympic athletes to help teachers feel confident in delivering inclusive sports lessons.
As an extension of Premier League Primary Stars, this campaign will support the programme’s message of inclusive PE and school sport, using partners and channels that engage a different audience.
Speaking about Super Movers for Every Body, ambassador and multiple Paralympic gold medalist Cockroft said: “I am so proud to be part of the exciting Super Movers for Every Body campaign. It’s all about ensuring no child misses out on PE and sport in schools, whether they are disabled or non-disabled, it encourages everyone that they can move, they can be active and they can be included.
“Giving teachers and children the confidence, skills and knowledge they need to ensure nobody is left out is so important to me. We need to recognise that every child can do sport, it is just about finding the right activity and making any adaptations to find the way that is right for them.
“I have so many skills from taking part in sport that have been so valuable in all aspects of my life and I want every child to have the opportunity to develop those skills.
Bobby Moore Academy head teacher, Bradley David added: “It’s great to see role models like Vlad lend their time to supporting a local primary school and initiatives such as the ‘Super Movers for Every Body.’
“We have a lot of West Ham fans at the school and in the staff too so we were all thrilled to see them here and supporting and working with the pupils of such a brilliant activation to support the West Ham Foundation.
“The Foundation does lots of great work across both Bobby Moore Academy sites – pushing the importance of inclusivity in school and sport - and we’re hoping that the relationship between us and the Club can continue to blossom.”
The West Ham United Foundation works to harness the power of football to maximise life chances and inspire better futures for all. The charity’s delivery extends across east London, Essex and international sites, spanning all ages and abilities; aiming to respond to local needs, unite our community, and provide an environment for all to thrive.
Engaging with up to 50,000 people annually, the Foundation has supported good causes and social support programmes for over 30 years to make a real difference to individuals, groups and communities.
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