Nuneaton special school celebrates sports day thanks to HSBC and CSW Sport

Students from Values Academy in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, are getting set for a special Community Games sports day today. Thanks to HSBC, which has donated prizes, and CSW (Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire) Sport, which has donated sporting equipment for the day, students are ready to give their all on the track and pitches.

HSBC has donated a range of prizes, including a tournament cup and medals, for today’s festivities. Staff at the bank have also put together a football team and tug-of-war team, and will be challenging Values Academy students in a tournament.

Like many other schools, Values Academy puts on a sports day every summer. However, Values Academy isn’t like other schools. It provides an alternative to mainstream education for young people at risk of social exclusion. Many of the students have never had the opportunity to shine on the sports field before. This year’s sports day is giving them a unique chance to engage with their friends, families and community.

Lorraine Nicholls, school leader at Values Academy Nuneaton, said: “We’re absolutely overwhelmed by HSBC and CSW’s support. Without their help, our sports day would have been a much smaller affair. As well as donating prizes for today’s sports day, HSBC has been incredibly generous with its funds and time. They have donated £500 for paint and decorating equipment – then staff gave up their own time to come to the school and help us to redecorate!

“We've also had HSBC funding approved for the gardens. Staff have already helped us to clear the courtyard and prepare the grounds, and we’re buying benches and tables for the students to use in good weather. These efforts are brilliant, and really help our young people to appreciate what they can achieve with a little understanding, motivation and confidence.”

A spokesman from HSBC said: “It is our great pleasure and privilege to be able to work with the staff and pupils of Values Academy in Nuneaton. As an organisation we always strive to be involved with members of our local community, to support them in any way that we can, as this is a trusted joint partnership. Our common aim is to help Values Academy nurture and develop its pupils – hopefully our support goes some way towards this goal.”

Today’s sports day is a fitting way to celebrate a great year at Values Academy. The students have worked incredibly hard in and outside the classroom, and are expected to get very good exam results. They have also worked very hard on renovating their school, and this sports day is both a reward and an opportunity for them to create closer bonds with their peers and community.

ENDS

Notes for editors: Values Academy (previously known as the Collegiate Centre for Values Education for Life) is a two-site school in Birmingham and Nuneaton. It provides a values-based education for young people at risk of social exclusion and is an alternative to mainstream education. It has a superb success rate and received an excellent Ofsted report for the last academic year. The school is also a registered charity. All donations are very much needed and appreciated.

For more information, please contact Val Russell, director of school, on 0121 523 0222 or val.russell@valuesacademy.org.uk, Vicky Fraser, press officer, on 07814 577217 or vicky.fraser@valuesacademy.org.uk, or visit www.valuesacademy.org.uk.