Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust (Trust) engaged over three thousand children at their various holiday courses across Hertfordshire and Harrow, keeping youngsters entertained throughout the school break.
There were also a number of surprise appearances from Watford FC first-team players at the various Trust courses, including Daniel Bachmann, Vakoun Bayo, Edo Kayembe, James Morris, Ben Hamer, Rhys Healey, Mattie Pollock, Ismael Kone, and Tom Dele-Bashiru.
2563 children engaged in the Trust’s football holiday course sessions running throughout the six weeks of schools’ summer break. Sessions were delivered at venues in Harrow, Harpenden, and Watford, with youngsters taking part in a range of drills, games, and matches.
Not only do these courses help children improve their footballing ability and create special memories with existing and new friends, but these courses also generate vital unrestricted funding to the registered charity, Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust. Payment on courses such as these helps the Trust to deliver other worthwhile projects in the community, ensuring those who need their services can access them for free or at a reduced cost.
A further 498 children took part in free holiday courses funded by the Department for Education, providing youngsters on the free school meals initiative with fun activities and nutritious lunches. The Trust deliver these courses at both of their community centres – Cedars Youth and Community Centre in Harrow, and Meriden Community Centre in North Watford.
In Watford, there was the HAPpy (Holiday Activity Programme) courses delivered by the Trust in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, Herts Sports Partnership and the Hertfordshire Community Foundation. Whilst in Harrow there were the HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) courses, delivered in partnership with Young Harrow Foundation and Harrow Council.
