Kids Initiative and Community News Archive 2024

NHS DAY

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Published: Wednesday, 21 February 2024 23:10

FREE Entry for the dedicated staff of Dorset NHS

The club are looking to show appreciation to the dedicated staff of Dorset NHS by offering them free entry and refreshments to our home game against Sholing on Saturday 23 March 2024.

Ticketing details will be announced in due course and information forwarded to NHS staff.

NEW KI CABIN AT THE BLACK GOLD

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Published: Saturday, 17 February 2024 15:48

Selco Builder's Merchants Donate Materials For Kids Cabin

The KI is very grateful to the club for providing it with a hub at the ground, sharing part of the new club shop. Club and KI director, Richard Gale, commented 'Having a base at the ground will enable us to sell Kids Initiative merchandise on match days as well as giving us the ability to entertain and meet sponsors and beneficiaries of the KI alike.

Thanks to the Poole Branch of Selco builder's merchants, who donated all the materials, the Kids Cabin will benefit from a timber decked area which will offer a lovely space to enjoy when the weather improves.'

PIRATES OF POOLE TO SPONSOR THE KI

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Published: Saturday, 17 February 2024 15:31

The KI To Receive Funds Raised On Harry Paye Day

The KI are very grateful to have been chosen as a beneficiary this year from the fund-raising efforts of the Pirates of Poole.

Their big annual event, Harry Paye Day, which celebrates the famous pirate Harry Paye, is being held on Poole Quay on Saturday 15th June 2024 so please come along and join in the swashbuckling fun.

WEDNESDAY FREE GIRL’S FOOTBALL PROVISION EXPANDS

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Published: Tuesday, 13 February 2024 22:08

Lauren Kelly, a current Poole Town Ladies player, is joining the coaching staff

Thanks to funding secured last autumn from Pitching In, we are delighted to announce that Lauren Kelly, a current Poole Town Ladies player, is joining the coaching staff of our free Wednesday night girls football sessions.

With the addition of Lauren, who is also a coach of our U11s girl’s team, means that we have been able to open up more spaces in the session, for girls in Year 5 to Year 8, and clear the waiting list that had built up. Lauren’s enthusiasm and experience will be of great benefit to the girls attending.

KI SUPPLIES BOOTS FOR NEW 3G PITCH

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Published: Tuesday, 13 February 2024 21:44

Boots For Rossmore

Working in conjunction with BCP council, the KI have donated 27 new pairs of football boots to the Rossmore Leisure Centre for use on their recently completed 3G pitch.

The donated boots on the state of the art pitch. Richard Gale, far left, presented the boots to, from left to right, Millie Earl, Councillor and Deputy Leader of BCP, Jude Martin, BCP Leisure Development Officer and Sean Gabriel, Councillor and Rossmore Centre manager.

Due to the make up of the artificial surface only a specific type of boot is allowed to be used on this 3G pitch. Due to the prohibitive cost facing parents of having to fork out for this compliant footwear, the KI stepped in and provided these boots to the Centre, in a range of sizes, so that children and teenagers could borrow them if needed. Club and KI director Richard Gale said 'We were contacted by BCP council to see if the Boot Room scheme of ours could help.

There is only one type of boot allowed to be used on the pitch - trainers, astroturf boots, bladed boots are all banned, so very few children will have suitable footwear without buying this particular type. It was therefore an easy decision for us to step in and provide the Centre with boots, available to borrow, meaning potentially hundreds of children and teenagers won't miss out because they can't afford the required footwear'.

KI SPONSORS LATEST THRIVE COURSE

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Published: Tuesday, 13 February 2024 21:12

The Kids Initiative are continuing to support the Shine Project

Shine Project is a Dorset charity committed to supporting young people, aged 11 – 15, improve their physical and mental health. The Shine Project partners with schools, youth clubs and other charities to offer a choice of well-being courses.

Richard and James, standing left in the back row with the boys from St. Edwards and the Shine staff

The main courses for schools are split into 2. The Shine Course has been developed for those that identify as female/non-binary whilst the Thrive Course is for those identifying as male/non-binary.

These early intervention, 7-8 week, courses consist of small groups exploring subjects closely related to their physical and mental health. In addition to participating in the delivery of the course, the KI has agreed to contribute £1,000 sponsorship per term for a course hosted in a Poole school.

The latest Thrive program is being delivered at St. Edwards school in Canford Heath and was attended by Poole Town FC and KI director Richard Gale and first team coach James Ellis. James was able to give the attendees good advice and encouragement about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise before leading some lively football skills training, in a small classroom, which got everybody moving.

The Shine Project courses have proved to be extremely popular and the charity has now worked with 23 schools locally. The Kids Initiative is keen to continue to support these sessions, especially for schools in the Poole area, many of whom it already helps through its Schools Program.

For more information about The Shine Project visit

https://www.shineproject.org.uk/about