In its first year of existence the Leeds United Foundation’s ‘Taking it to the Kids’ programme is already having an impact upon the city of Leeds and its primary school children. 

Targeting every five to eleven year old in Leeds and headed by the Leeds United Foundation Coaching Team, the Taking it to the Kids programme will eventually visit 242 Leeds based primary schools by the end of this academic year in July. 

Run in conjunction with Leeds United, Leeds City Council, Child Friendly Leeds and Network Rail the programme sees Leeds United Foundation coaches deliver 18 hours worth of free coaching over a six week period with topics ranging from football technique to healthy living and rail line safety.

One of the schools to have already taken part in the programme is Our Lady’s RC Primary School on Pigeon Cote Road in Leeds who completed their six week period immediately prior to the February half term holiday.

The children enjoyed it so much they sent thank-you cards to the coaches and Our Lady’s Year 2 teacher Lynda Blyth explained: “All the children involved really enjoyed every aspect of the six week course and wanted to say thank you to the Leeds United Foundation and its coaches. The Leeds United Foundation coaches were brilliant and had a fantastic relationship with the children, teaching them all sorts of new things.

“Obviously the football coaching side of things was the main drawer for the kids but from our point of view it was great to see so many other topics covered too. Having a representative from Leeds United offer advice on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how to be safe on the railway was great to see and hopefully that advice will serve our kids well going forward. We’d love to see them back at the school again, they were brilliant.”

Among the cards sent to the Foundation was a giant interactive football themed card complete with a moving player and personalised thank you messages from each of the children who had taken part. That card was courtesy of Lynda Blyth’s Year 2 class and among the messages of thanks were comments from Jack, who thanked the coaches for improving his shooting skills; Grace, who was thankful for improving her dribbling skills and Rachelle, who simply thanked them for being brilliant.

Leeds United Foundation Football Development Officer Gary Waddington said: “We really appreciate the time and effort the kids at Our Lady’s went too to say thanks and view it as a sign that the Taking it to the Kids programme is having the impact we always hoped it would. It’s a great programme to be involved with and credit must go not only to Scott Gardner and his team for the way they looked after the sessions at Our Lady’s but also to our entire Leeds United Foundation Coaching Team who’s tireless efforts are really having an impact on so many young lives throughout the city.”

For more information about the Leeds United Foundation’s Taking it to the Kids programme please visit www.leedsunitedfoundation.com or contact Leeds United Foundation Football Development Officer Gary Waddington via gary.waddington@leedsunited.com.

For more information about Our Lady’s RC Primary School please visit www.ourladys.org or telephone: 0113 2144123.