Leo Hjelde and Paige Williams recently made a special visit to Beeston Primary School to join a group of local students during one of their Healthy Holidays sessions with the Leeds United Foundation.

The Healthy Holidays programme involves educational workshops and multi-sports activities delivered by coaches from the club’s official charity to young children in some of the more deprived areas of Leeds, to ensure they are staying safe and active and also have enough food to support their families through the school holiday periods.

During the recent session, the Leeds United duo were on hand to take part in a game of dodgeball with the youngsters, with Leo on one team and Paige on the other – which is just one of the sports games they play with the children during the summer camps. The pair also took part in a Q and A session with the children, answering a number of questions around playing football, and life outside of football, before signing tops and taking photos.

The Leeds United defender spoke to LUTV during the visit, and he said: “It’s been really good coming along today, it was very enjoyable to have a day with the kids here and spend some time with them, so I think it was enjoyable for everyone.”

Paige Williams, Leeds United Women’s player, added: “I’ve absolutely loved it, it was really good joining in with the kids and they all absolutely loved it too. Seeing both boys and girls getting involved, but especially the young girls having fun in their football kits, it’s inspiring to me as much as it probably is me to them coming along today.”

The Healthy Holidays programme is currently being delivered throughout six areas in Leeds, and it is a free course provision for primary school aged children that live in deprived areas of the city, and it is being funded by the Leeds Community Fund and Arla at the moment. Throughout each half-term holiday, the youngsters involved in the daily sessions receive a special LUFC goody bag, packed lunches, and a food hamper that they can take home for their family – courtesy of Rethink Food.

For more information on the various programmes being delivered through the Health and Wellbeing team at the Leeds United Foundation, please contact Simon.Wood@leedsunited.com.