The Hollesley Primary School Fundraiser

Aim

To support the mental and physical health of the pupils by hosting an inspirational workshop.

Hollesley Primary School are hosting an inspirational workshop with Team GB Freestyle Kayaker Rebekah Green. Can you help us make it happen?

The School 

Hollesley Primary School's commitment is to providing the highest standards of education for all children and to promote their sense of self-worth, so that they become happy, confident and caring members of the community.

At Hollesley Primary School they aim:-

• To create a safe, friendly and supportive learning environment.
• To provide the highest standards of education for all children in order to attain high and improving levels of achievement.
• To develop children’s individual strengths and talents through the provision of a creative, exciting, fun-filled and relevant curriculum.
• To provide a welcoming family atmosphere which promotes friendships in which every child is valued.
• To be a caring happy school where children develop confidence, independence, self-esteem and consideration of others.

 Hollesley Primary School also promote British values through their curriculum and activities during school time by:

• Including age-appropriate material in the curriculum on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law works in Britain in comparison to other forms of government in other countries
• Making sure that all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to
• Demonstrating how democracy works through actively promoting democratic processes, for example our School Council
• Organising visits to Parliament and places of worship, and encouraging contact with local opinion leaders
• Using opportunities to teach pupils how to argue and defend points of view
• Using teaching resources from a wide variety of sources to help pupils understand a range of faiths.

Hollesley Values - the Six Rs

At Hollesley Primary School they are:

• Respectful to everyone and the environment
• Responsible for all learning and their actions
• Resilient - they don't give up: they stay positive
• Resourceful - they think 'how can I...' and they ask good questions
• Ready to think, communicate and learn, always
• Reflective - they consider 'how can I do better?'

Who's coming? 

HOW I STARTED

Around the age of 10, my mum (while she was marathon training) and I used to run and cycle around Lee valley white water centre, watching the slalom athletes train for the 2012 Olympics. I told her how I’d love, one day, to give it a try and she encouraged me to go speak to one of the coaches, who informed us of a club that paddles on a Wednesday night. Fast forward a few weeks and I had joined Lee Valley Paddlesports club for my first experience in a slalom kayak on the lake. A couple of months later the coach was unable to continue, so I joined a group of girls who played games and enjoyed flat water activities, although I was determined to get on the white water. My first experience of white-water paddling came from a group that needed an extra paddler on their raft. I rafted with them regularly for a few months until they began training to compete in the upcoming world championships, for which I was a couple of years too young. Persistent in my desire to paddle on the course, I returned to the club, spoke to the coaches, and was told to come back in a month (after the Christmas break) and they would have someone for me. As expected, come January, a coach was available, who happened to be an avid freestyler (a discipline I previously hadn’t thought much of). After learning to roll and getting assessed to paddle unsupervised on the lee valley watercourse, I began my obsession with freestyle kayaking.

MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

My greatest achievement in freestyle kayaking would have to be the first time I made the GB team. Although I have won a few open competitions and was on the podium at the British championships, the excitement following my first successful selections brought emotions of accomplishment and yet anticipation for the next year. As a junior girl, having barely made a mark in the competitive world, and scoring zero in my first selections, making the team was an incredible experience. Coming off the water after my 45-second rides, I felt strong. I could feel the improvement following the past few months of training and looking at score sheets with my name in that spot was an insane relief. 

 MY GREATEST CHALLENGE 

My greatest challenge came in the months following my parents' separation in 2018. My dad moved to Oxford, leaving my mum to look after me and my 3 sisters. As the only kayaker in the family and dependant on lifts to get to training and competitions, it became both practically and financially challenging to get on the water. Wednesdays became a hassle, as my mum juggled taking me to paddle and my sisters to their various activities. Desperate to progress and train for selections, as soon as I was 16, I started working at the kayak shop at Lee Valley. This gave me free access to the water and the opportunity to afford better equipment while learning more about the sport through customer communication.

MY HOBBIES

Outside of kayaking, I love to sing and play the guitar, as well as running Parkruns and recently I’ve started bouldering in various indoor locations around North London. Some of my favourite foods include apples and Percy pigs, although, my Achilles heel is carrot cake.

MY FUTURE GOALS

My future goals include making the team for both C1 and K1 disciplines, competing at the next few world championships, and getting on the podium one day. I’d love to put down a competition ride that I am proud of. A ride where I score the moves, I know I can. However, a goal without a plan is just a wish! So, I plan to keep training, continue learning and grow as an athlete in this ever-expanding sport.

Who are we?

Sports For Champions UK (CIC) in partnership with Hollesley 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! Youth are invited to join a sponsored fitness circuit led by a Professional athlete, who will educate, enable, and empower participants with a view to inspire them as champions of tomorrow.

While we’re not all athletically inclined we strongly encourage participation, because all youth have talent and require inspiration to pursue their dreams - whatever they may be! After 10 years of success, we can promise a highly memorable event!

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 organization that is voluntarily registered with the Fundraising Regulator. You can support the initiative with assurance.

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 invest in local communities to avail of support with 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 added investment on 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.

Hollesley Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from renowned Team GB Freestyle Kayaker Rebekah Green on the 13th of July 2022 and we need your support!

The pupils will benefit from Physical activity, an inspirational talk including medal display and a Q&A session.

Why is this important?

Hollesley Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Rebekah Green, this will be enhanced as a school, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.

Hollesley Primary School will benefit from the money raised as they will be able to invest in 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 Team GB Freestyle Kayaker Rebekah Green and to raise funds for key resources for Hollesley 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.

This project closed unsuccessfully on 13th July 2022