Ignite Sport delivers Summer Camps!

Ignite Sport engaged thousands of children with its Holiday Camps as part of its commitment to encourage more youngsters to enjoy sport and physical activity.

Over 5,000 sessions were attended at four destinations across Oxfordshire. They included Oxford City FC in Marston, East Oxford Primary School, Dalton Barracks in Abingdon and East & West Hundred Cricket Club.

As part of the summer programme some children were eligible for funded places through the Holiday Activity Fund (HAF). Launched in 2018, HAF is a government-funded programme backed by England and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford whose work has helped increase awareness of the programme.

Its aim is to encourage and inspire children to reach their true potential through sport who otherwise may struggle to access such opportunities due to access or cost barriers. In addition to physical activity, eligible children also receive a healthy balanced meal which includes pastas, jacket potatoes, fruits, healthy snacks and ice lollies on sunny days.

All meals came with dietary options and were adapted to any dietary needs.

Football coaches included Oxford City FC’s own Josh Ashby and Oxford City FC Head of Female football, Aliyah Anthony. Both coaches ran sessions including multisport and dance fusion as well as mixed girls and boys football.

There was also opportunity for participants to showcase their creative side through our arts and crafts sessions which included making fruit kebabs, planting fruit and veg seeds and making friendship bracelets. And for the budding artists Art Smash Camp was on offer where children experimented with spray paints amongst other arts.  Dance Fusion Camp proved very popular this summer and was delivered in partnership with Mini Professionals Dance Academy. As part of the enrichment focus on activities that educate on elements outside of sport, children enjoyed witnessing and diarising the life cycle of baby caterpillars into butterflies using a Butterfly Garden and setting them free at camp when fully grown.

Andy Francis, Active Communities Manager at Ignite Sport, said: “It was fantastic to see so many children engage with physical activity and creative camps this summer, especially those who were new to us via funded places through our HAF programme”

“On the football side we were especially pleased to welcome an upturn of numbers of teenagers in attendance at our Game-Tech Football Camps where ages 12 to 16 benefitted from professional coaching at Oxford City FC”

“We are always happy and privileged to provide a fun and safe space for children to learn new skills, make friends and enjoy activities. We’re delighted with the volume of participants we work with and would love to welcome the children's return in October.”

“We’re also proud to hold our continued status as approved delivery partner for HAF with Oxfordshire County Council and work alongside them to drive efforts locally to offer places in sport-based and activities for everyone as well as educating children about how to eat well by providing healthy food options.”

Booking is now open for October half term holiday camps, book now using the link below!

https://www.ignitesportuk.com/book-a-session