Introduction
Over the past four years we have established a regular summer sports camp for local Oxfordshire children in the final years of Primary Education. This programme was the initiative of a few members keen to encourage the scholar athletes of the future and the promote the important role that competitive sport plays in a balanced lifestyle. The outreach programme aims to show school children that sport and academia can both be pursued simultaneously and further, that they complement one another.
The scope of the program is promising and exciting. In the near future we will be able to reach a greater number of pupils in and around Oxford and will be able to mentor pupils in secondary education. There may well be capacity to use our Outreach experience in Oxford and contacts with charitable foundations such as the Harry Birrell Scholarship Trust and UmRio to engage in camps overseas.
We pledge to support student-athletes of all ages and ability in Oxfordshire. By raising aspirations, every young life we reach will be enhanced through exposure to the sporting and academic ideals upon which Vincent’s Club is founded.
Outreach Camp 2018
The annual Vincent’s and Atalanta’s Outreach camp took place at Iffley Road during 9th week of Trinity term. Two classes of year 6 students from Larkrise primary school took part in an exciting program of activities run by volunteers from both clubs. We have been building an ever stronger relationship with Larkrise, having helped run a number of after school clubs throughout this academic year.
As with previous years, the focus of the camp is to teach the children about teamwork, leadership and discipline outside the realms of traditional sports. Our activities varied from ultimate frisbee, to blindfolded obstacle courses and rugby netball, keeping the children active continuously. On the final day, the children were assigned groups of 8, with each group given a different set of equipment, they each devised their own game, under the guidance of the great volunteers. The groups then played each other’s games in a final round-robin tournament, with the team displaying the most impressive teamwork being rewarded at the end!
Throughout the week we were privileged to have a number of Vincent Award winners speak to the children at lunch times. Issy Scott, Australian national middle-distance track athlete, Rachel Wheatley, GB Judo and regional boxer, and Will Wilson, England 7s rugby player, all spoke about the journey within their respective sports, and how throughout their careers they have balanced sport and academics to the benefit of both spheres.
It was incredibly rewarding to hear the teachers comment that a number of children were the most engaged and excited that they had seen in a long while when they returned on the final day. In addition, many of the children rated it as their highlight of the term in their end of season reports.
This year’s camp was another great success that would not have been possible without our volunteers, OURFC and sports federation facilities support and MCS provision of lunches. Thank-you to everyone involved!
“The Vincent’s Outreach camp this year was formative and magical for the children who took part and we are looking forward to getting more kids involved in the next one.”
– Ms Rauf, SSMJ Year 6 Head
