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• Literacy Kicks Project

  Wed 20 Mar 2024 R Miller

  Marine in the Community hosts young sports journalists

   

  PRIMARY school children in Crosby put journalism skills they had learned in the classroom into practise when they attended Saturday’s Marine FC versus Guiseley AFC Pitching In Northern Premier League match.

   

  A total of 26 pupils from local schools St Luke’s Halsall and Valewood Primary became sports reporters for the day, after completing a programme run by Marine in the Community and Literacy Kicks.

   

  Funded by a grant from the Trident Community Foundation, established by league sponsors Pitching In, the project covered a wide range of sporting subjects and writing styles over the course of six weeks. The lessons are delivered by journalist Gareth Walker, who spent over 20 years reporting on leading sporting events for national newspapers.

   

  It culminated in Saturday’s gripping clash at Rossett Park, which saw the Mariners boost their play-off prospects with a 1-0 win.

   

  The children took notes throughout the game, were introduced to the crowd on the pitch at the break, and at full-time were able to interview match-winner Bobby Grant. They will now write reports on the game which will be published by the club.

   

  Marine in the Community director Graeme Gardiner said: “It was an absolutely fantastic afternoon for everybody involved. The children relished the prospect of becoming sports journalists for the day and it provided a fitting culmination to the first part of Marine in the Community’s partnership with Literacy Kicks.

   

  “The feedback from the schools, pupils and parents has been excellent and we will be repeating the project again in the area before the end of the school year.”

   

  Literacy Kicks founder Walker added: “All of the children were a credit to their schools and staff, who kindly gave up their Saturday afternoons to help oversee them becoming sports reporters for the day.

   

  “Being able to speak directly to match winner Bobby Grant at the end of the game was a superb experience for the pupils and gave them a real insight into what it is like reporting on sporting events.

   

  “The whole project has been a pleasure to deliver in St Luke’s Halsall and Valewood Primary schools, using sport as a means to engage children in both writing and reading. Marine FC were outstanding hosts throughout and we’re looking forward to returning again in the future.”