DFY completes after school programme for 230 children at ARK Franklin Primary Academy

DFY has just completed a 10 week programme for over 230 children to increase physical activity and teach important life skills at ARK Franklin Primary Academy in Brent.

DFY made the decision to work with the ARK Academy network as they provide high-quality education to areas of economic disadvantage. 42% of ARK Academy students are classified as being ‘disadvantaged’.

Covid-19, and the accompanying restrictions of the past year, has been especially tough on children physically and mentally due to remote learning, being unable to see their friends, and a lack of regular physical activity. The ARK Back to Play programme’s mission was to reverse the negative physical and mental health effects of the past year by using fun games and expert sports coaching.

Equality and inclusivity were also important pillars of the programme. For the children whose families could not afford it, the programme was free. Ensuring the programme was welcoming to all led to a diverse group of participants. 40% of the children were people of colour and 47% were girls.

Each class saw the children learning a sport from an expert coach- be it dance from the London Contemporary Dance School’s Annabel Knobbs; football from semi-professional footballer Michel Bolou; or touch rugby from former London Irish and Gloucester coach Billy Clark.

One class featured a special guest - Leicester Tigers fly-half and England international Freddie Burns who is also a trustee of the charity. Freddie also took the opportunity to talk about some of the important lessons he had learned in his life.

“I know what it’s like to be where these children are - I was a little bit of a bad boy when I was younger. So I know how important it is to have positive role models in your life. The sort of person who teaches you how to listen, how to work in a team. The person who stops you making a bad choice and instead keeps you on the right path in life.

Being able to meet these children, share my experiences with them, and help them have some fun too, is great. It’s something I’m glad I have the opportunity to do.”

Freddie Burns, Leicester Tigers fly-half and England International

Now, DFY looks ahead. A new programme spanning the 2021/22 school year will begin at ARK Franklin in September. Furthermore, DFY will host a summer camp in August to help more children to #becomeunstoppable by reaching their full potential.