Croftway Primary School are hosting an inspirational workshop with Three-Time Paralympic Champion Stephen Miller. Stephen needs your help to raise funds for vital training, medical and competition costs. This money will also help your school and other athletes across the country, find out more below!
Croftway Primary School is a friendly, happy, vibrant school located in Blyth. Their youngest children are just three years old and can learn with the school all the way up to year six (aged 11). Croftway work with their sister Wise schools in Blyth, Morpeth Road and Malvin’s Close, very closely to enable them to maximise what the school's can offer to all children across the three schools and develop a really strong community spirit.
Croftway Primary School have an amazing teaching team and are very proud of how together, with all pupils, parents, governors and staff, Croftway are also a community of learners that grow together with the children at the very centre of everything they do. The curriculum, outdoor provision and teaching is personalised to meet the needs and interests of all pupils and through their wealth of teaching expertise they celebrate all aspects of the National Curriculum with children and in the learning environment.
Who's Coming?
HOW I STARTED
I took part in the school sports club once a week and began competing in junior regional events and competitions. One of the coaches at the club was a Paralympian at the time which inspired me to continue pushing as they were a huge inspiration for me. The junior championships in Blackpool were a crucial moment for me as I won 6 gold medals in Club Throw, discus and the likes! At that point, I was 14 years old, but I had to stop competing in junior championships as I was winning too much!
MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
My greatest achievement is when I became a three-time Paralympic champion. It was a special Paralympics as I was returning to the event for the third time, but I knew I wanted to take home the title again. I ended up breaking my own world record when I competing as I raised the bar by another 5cm’s as I threw a 33.53m to take not only the world record but another Paralympic gold! It was a highlight as I had been competing for a decade to earn my accolades and then I had also broken my own world record, and around that time the Paralympics were getting more media coverage so it was awesome to see the buzz around a sport I have loved for years!
MY GREATEST CHALLENGE
In the run-up to the London 2012 Paralympics, I battled a nasty hip injury as the cartilage had been worn down meaning I had to suffer with limited mobility and lots of pain. I was offered a hip replacement but there wasn’t a 100% chance of success and with the Paralympics coming to London I knew I had to compete. In the end, I managed to compete as team captain but was unable to medal due to the injury, which was difficult to take as it was my home games.
MY HOBBIES
In my free time, I love watching sports, especially going to Newcastle matches as I have been attending since I was four years old and own a season ticket! Other than that I enjoy inspiring the next generation to be the best version of themselves, along with sports coaching and spending days out with my family.
MY FUTURE GOALS
In the future, I want to continue to be a good role model for young people along with ensuring I continue training and keeping fit. I also have my own charity that supplies sports equipment and inspires young people so I am also determined to grow this to have as great of an impact as possible!
Who are Sports For Champions?
Sports For Champions UK (CIC) in partnership with Croftway Primary School and the local community are running a fundraiser to help support the mental and physical health of the pupils after the national lockdowns.
Great news! Sports For Champions UK (CIC) will soon visit your school! Your young people have been invited to join a sponsored fitness circuit led by a Professional athlete, who will educate, enable, and empower participants with a view to inspiring them to be the champions of tomorrow.
While we're not all athletically inclined we strongly encourage participation, all young people have talent and require inspiration to pursue their dreams - whatever they may be! After 12 years of success we have perfected our inspirational events and they are guaranteed to deliver for your school and pupils!
Sports For Champions events are held in support of schools, which keep 60% of the funds raised to spend on resources that will enrich young peoples? education/experience. Professional athletes in need of support are the only other beneficiaries from the remaining 40%. Sports For Champions is an audited organisation that is voluntarily registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Meaning you can support the initiative with assurance.
What will happen on the day?
During the assembly, Sports For Champions athletes show medals and tell their story, hard work, lessons, and insights shared to capture the imagination of all and inspire healthier active lifestyles. Athletes discuss challenges on the road to success, with resilience, nutrition, diet, and dedication forming key topics. Fitness is essential for every young person?s general wellbeing in physical and mental health. It is also proven to be a strong booster of learning potential or brain power. By inspiring children as champions of tomorrow, Sports For Champions envision youth growing in all walks of life as healthy, [pro] active community-minded talents.
Alongside Team Sports For Champions, athletes engage in invaluable work within local communities to support their training-related costs (e.g. physio/travel). Most world-class athletes train a rigorous 35hr week and struggle to find reliable work that fits their schedule. This is how the funds we raise enable athletes and your school/club to realise their potential. Many pro athletes are unsponsored, lose support, or cannot find it.
Sports For Champions offers schools the benefit of an additional funds to go towards resources/facilities, whilst helping athletes with the funds required to sustain their journey with a contribution towards training and competition fees, medical costs, equipment, and more.
Croftway Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from renowned Three-Time Paralympic Champion Stephen Miller on the 26th of October 2023 and we need your support!
The pupils will benefit from Physical activity, an inspirational talk including medal display and a Q&A session.
Where does the money go?
When parents and guardians offer their support to a Sports for Champions UK (CIC) fundraising event, they’re investing not only in their children’s present but also in the promising futures of many upcoming athletes. Here’s a breakdown of how your contributions make a difference:
For each fundraising event Sports For Champions looks to raise enough money to cover the costs that it takes to provide such an excellent service nationally. Once that goal is reached, surplus funds are allocated in a way that benefits both the school and our passionate athletes – 60% for the school’s continued growth and 40% contributing to the athlete fund.
At the core of the Sports For Champions UK (CIC) initiative is the Athlete Fund. Primarily, the fund aids schools in less economically privileged areas that might struggle with costs, ensuring that the administrative fee isn’t a barrier to vital opportunities. Additionally, it assists our dedicated athletes in moments of pressing need, whether it’s recovering from injuries, procuring advanced equipment, or embarking on warm-weather training camps. Our fundamental belief remains unwavering: no school should be compromised for its economic stance, and every promising athlete deserves a fair shot at excellence. Our commitment ensures no child or school is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.
Challenges Athletes Face: Our partnering pro athletes and Team GB Olympians have a world of responsibilities on their shoulders. They juggle between a rigorous training schedule that demands over 35 hours a week and their personal commitments. This often leaves them with limited time and resources to focus on their careers, leading to financial constraints. Expenses for equipment, training, coaching, travel, and more pile up, making it a challenge for these athletes to perform at their best and represent Great Britain.
Why is this important?
Croftway Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Stephen Miller, this will be enhanced as a school, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.
Croftway Primary School will benefit from the money raised as they will be able to provide new equipment and fund opportunities for the children in afterschool clubs.
How can you help?
We're asking all parents to help make it a memorable event for the pupils with the help of Three-Time Paralympic Champion Stephen Miller and to raise funds for key resources for Croftway Primary School.
If you are a local business or a friend of the school and would like to contribute to help us get to our target then please do make a donation and share our project as far as you can.