Sandra, a Year Six pupil at St. Wilfrid’s Primary School, had her own centre circle design brought to life when City in the Community transformed their playground.
After being surprised by Manchester City’s Laura Coombs and Khiara Keating, who unveiled Sandra’s design to her, she was also joined by Demi Stokes and Poppy Pritchard who helped her to paint her design on the playground.
Following the final regeneration work, Scott Carson and Sergio Gomez officially opened the playground, alongside Sandra and all her friends.
Commenting at the official opening, Sandra said: “When I got to see our new pitch for the first time, I felt really excited that my design was included and that everyone will be able to be play on it and look at it. I’m just so happy to see my name on it as well, I wanted to burst!
“I would like to thank City in the Community for including my drawing and helping me to be more brave generally.”
Sandra takes part in City in the Community sessions whilst at school, as part of the Premier League Primary Stars (PLPS) programme.
Sitting under the charity’s ‘Healthy People’ pillar, CITC PLPS coaches work with pupils to help enhance their physical and social development through National Curriculum PE lessons.
Coaches also work closely with teachers within lessons to improve their confidence and competence when delivering PE.
The programme also delivers educational workshops on topics such as anti-bullying and anti-racism throughout the year, alongside tournaments and events.
Talking about the programme and the sessions, Sandra said: “My favourite thing about my CITC lessons is finding new sports that I like and doing fun things I’ve never done before.
When CITC come it’s more fun and it’s nice to play and do some sports.”
City in the Community has regenerated multi-sports pitches at primary schools across Greater Manchester, thanks to support from fans.
The charity’s ‘Healthy Goals’ initiative, which raised £250,000 last season, aims to uplift the physical and mental health of young people by creating new community football spaces and youth-led projects in Manchester.
Commenting on their newly regenerated pitch, Sarah Brereton, Head Teacher at St Wilfrid’s Primary School, said:
“This pitch is special to us because of the reaction it has received. The children really have had the most amazing experience.
“In this area they don’t have an awful lot of anything, so to be able to take part in the design of this pitch and all the different sports they like, the children have just been enamoured with what’s been produced.”
DONATE IN 2024 AND WE’LL MATCH IT!
The first regenerated pitches were opened in May at Ravensbury Community School and St Wilfrid’s Primary School – both locations where City in the Community delivers its programmes.
Thanks to the success of last year’s campaign, the charity will open three more regenerated pitches this month, located at Ashbury Meadow, Southern Cross and Holy Name.
As part of the celebrations, City in the Community has announced the launch of a second fundraising window for 2024, enabling the expansion of its existing strategy to empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
Manchester City is once again bolstering the Healthy Goals initiative by matching all donations made before the fundraising window closes in September 2024, pound-for-pound*.
DONATE IN 2024 AND WE’LL MATCH IT!
The Healthy Goals initiative forms part of City in the Community’s commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces for people to play. In June 2023, the charity officially opened two new purpose-built recreational areas located at existing parks in Manchester – Scotland Hall Road and Ladybarn Park.
The designs include multi-functional football equipment for all of the community to enjoy, such as various sized pitches and goals, football tennis zones, passing squares, benches and floodlights.
For more information, visit www.mancity.com/healthygoals.
City in the Community empowers healthier lives through football with city youth.
To find out more information, visit www.mancity.com/citc or follow @citcmancity on social media.
*Overall, City Football Group will contribute a maximum of £125,000 (GBP) to City in the Community through this campaign or £500,000 (GBP) in total for all City Football Group affiliated charities participating in the campaign (whichever comes first).
