Children and Young People

New Rickstones Academy - OSF Project

Inclusive Extracurricular Activities Transforming Student and Community Engagement

New Rickstones Academy in Witham, supported by the Opening Schools Facilities (OSF) funding, has significantly enhanced its extracurricular sports programme, offering a diverse range of activities to students and the local community.

This initiative has brought a variety of new and exciting physical activities to the school, including football, dance, netball, exercise movement, Chinese martial arts, and basketball.

This initiative has not only improved the quality and variety of physical activities available but has also promoted a greater sense of inclusivity and community engagement. The programme caters to children and young people from various backgrounds, ensuring every child has access to these activities at no extra cost. Through new equipment purchases and partnerships with local sports clubs, the school has created an environment that develops wellbeing and active lifestyles, benefiting both students and community members alike.

Who's it for?

Students at New Rickstones Academy and children and young people from diverse backgrounds in the local community

Prime Objective:

To enhance the extracurricular sports programme by providing a variety of new and exciting physical activities

Second Objective:

To promote inclusivity and community engagement by ensuring every child has access to these activities at no extra cost

The project has provided valuable insights into the needs and values of the community groups working with New Rickstones Academy. Moving forward, the focus is on maintaining the momentum, ensuring the sustainability of the activities, and continuing to offer a diverse range of sports for all.

4,890

community users to the newly introduced sessions, significantly increasing community engagement

£43,960

funded to the school over the past three years of the OSF programme

forms of physical activity enabled by the developed space at the Academy

Our local groups who deliver the sessions are hugely appreciative of the opportunity to be part of this grant fund and the impact it has had on their end users.

Ben Moore, Community Lettings Manager at New Rickstones Academy

New Rickstones Academy stands as a testament to the transformative impact of targeted funding on a community. By offering children and young people opportunities to engage in physical activity, build relationships, and enhance their wellbeing, the academy has set a positive example. With continued support from Active Essex and local partners, the future looks bright for New Rickstones Academy.

New Rickstones Academy are a great example of how the OSF funding has grown the extracurricular provision for students and communities. Through Ben’s passion and commitment, New Rickstones Academy have developed strong relationships with local clubs to ensure they offer a wide range of activities accessible for the children and young people of Braintree. The OSF funding has meant New Rickstones Academy are at the heart of providing children and young people the opportunity to try something new and engage in physical activity.

Tom Weller, Active Essex Relationship Manager