SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: National Lottery boost for sport at Yeovil College

STUDENTS at Yeovil College have greater access to sport and fitness activities - thanks to a £55,000 National Lottery grant from Sport England’s Further Education Activation Fund.

The multi-million pound fund aims to provide students at Further Education and sixth form colleges across the UK with more opportunity to get into sport.

Over the next three years, 62 projects will be funded at 71 institutions across England, helping 59,000 new students playing sport.

Yeovil College already has an enviable reputation for success in competitive sport and counts experienced coaches among its staff.

As well as developing current provision into Team YC Elite, a programme for talented football, rugby, netball, athletics and badminton players keen to reach their full sporting potential, the grant will be used for a new scheme called Team YC Active.

PHOTO – TOP: Yeovil College’s Men’s Football team recently won the Association of Colleges South West Regional Football championships.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Recent Yeovil College sporting successes include Lily Kitto, 17, of Yeovil, who was picked for the British-U19s Hockey team.

Team YC Active is a new range of fun and engaging activities for people who want to stay fit, active and healthy but do not necessarily want to compete, which will enable more students to get involved and benefit from the grant.

Activities will be based on student demand, will include traditional and non-traditional sports and encourage all students to get involved, regardless of ability or background.  Proposed sports include volleyball, table tennis, Zumba, handball, freestyle gymnastics and fitness activities such as Tai Chi.

Yeovil College’s head of sport, Matt Hann, said: “Recent research from Sheffield Hallam University has shown that people who regularly take part in sport not only benefit from better health but they are also likely to earn at least £500,000 more over the course of their career than those who do not take part.

“So, naturally we want all our students to have the option to be active at whatever level they choose.

“This funding has helped our sports provision to be truly outstanding, whether students combine their studies with our elite sports programme or whether they just want to become more active.

“Already this year, a number our current Team YC Elite students have successfully progressed to national representative honours in football, hockey and netball. At participation level, we are proud to have a huge choice of opportunities to help raise activity levels – the best part being that it’s open and free to all of our students.”

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