Priory Primary School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with Sheffield United Women's Footballer Sophie Haywood. Sophie 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!
"Priory Primary School are committed to providing an exciting, challenging, connected curriculum which supports lifelong learning, physical and emotional well-being and encourages all children to have high aspirations for their future."
Who's Coming?
How I started:
I started playing football at the age of four in the garden. I had to beg my dad to join team because I was a dancer. When I was eight there were no girls’ teams in my area, so I joined the Pinefleet team with the boys, but I couldn’t play so my dad started a girls team at that same club just so I could play! After that I played in the under 12 league and then joined the Hull Centre of Excellence Football Academy!
My Greatest Achievement:
My greatest achievement is winning the championship, gaining promotion to the Super League, and playing in the Super League! I was playing with Aston Villa at the time after spending four years in America, I came back and completed my masters in Sports Science and Medicine at University of Nottingham. For me I felt like I’d made it back because after leaving for America I knew the league had developed a lot and I wanted to get back there. The biggest difference moving up is the speed of the game as you have to know what you’re going to do with the ball before you’ve even got it!
My Greatest Challenge:
My greatest challenge was my ACL injury. It happened coming towards the ned of my first year at the WSL playing at Aston Villa. I had a lot going for me after coming home from America and feeling elated to be back in the WSL along with the staff at Aston Villa being incredibly supportive too. I got on the training ground and tore my ACL which meant I was out of playing for a year. I feel like it changed me as a player because I have never reached the peak that I was at before I sustained the injury.
My Hobbies:
In my spare time I enjoy listening to music as it’s always been a big part of my life in and out of football, before big games, and you’ll rarely find me not playing music when I do have spare time. I don’t get a lot of time back home so when I do get the chance I like to spend my spare time going for walks, coffees, meals etc and catchup with the important people in my life.
My Future Aspirations:
In the future I would like to work with athletes either on the performance side of things. I really enjoy analysis so I’d like to see myself continuing my media work with Sky, such as punditry and whatnot.
Who are Sports For Champions?
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 young people developing in all walks of life as healthy, [pro] active community-minded participants in society.
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.
Priory Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from Sophie Haywood , on the the 17th of June 2024 and we need your support!
The pupils will benefit from physical activity through our fitness circuit, 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 are nurturing not only their children's immediate environments but also the bright futures of many rising athletes. Here is a breakdown of how your contributions make a significant 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?
Priory Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Sheffield United Women's Footballer Sophie Haywood, this will be enhanced across all year groups and staff, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.
Priory Primary School will benefit from the money raised as they will be able to provide new equipment, fund opportunities for the children, and more.
How can you help?
We're asking all parents to help make it a memorable event for the pupils with the help of Sheffield United Women's Footballer Sophie Haywood, to raise funds for key resources for Priory 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.