Swinton Students’ meet and greet with Manchester United players during Match of the Day special
On Thursday 2 February, Co-op Academy Swinton students met Manchester United first team football players on a trip to the training ground and headquarters of Manchester United Football Club.
Filmed by the BBC and Manchester United F.C, the Year 7-10 students took part in special activities focussed on supporting mental and physical wellbeing. The students met first team players; Bruno Fernandes, Frederico Rodrigues, Alejandro Garnacho and Ella Toone who took part in football activities with the students and shared inspiring stories about their personal and professional journeys, aired on Match of the Day on 5 March.
Watch the full feature from Match of the Day here:
Manchester United Foundation aims to develop young people to reach their full potential and helps build lasting relationships within their local community. The Foundation’s partnership with Co-op Academy Swinton began in 2014 and today, Hub Officer for the Foundation, Adele Howarth, continues to work with the students on their personal development, mental health and the impact social media has.
With a vision to “deliver educational and community outreach programmes to help young people make positive choices in their lives”, the Foundation is committed to helping young people improve their Health, Social Wellbeing and Employability.
Adele Howarth, Hub Officer at Manchester United Foundation, said:
“Today was such an incredible opportunity for our students, one that they will remember for the rest of their lives. I’m a firm believer that within my job role I can keep making a positive impact on students’ wellbeing within school, as football is such a powerful tool to help do that. Some of the students here today are a prime example of this. I’m so proud of them all and feel absolutely privileged to be Co-op Academy Swintons’ Hub Officer.
Headteacher, Zarina Ali, said:
This was an exceptional opportunity for our students at Co-op Academy Swinton. We were so pleased to be selected by Manchester United Foundation who we have a very strong partnership with. We are so proud of our students.
CEO of Co-op Academies Trust, Dr Chris Tomlinson, said:
It’s fantastic to see the result of Manchester United Foundation’s work with Co-op Academy Swinton and other students in our Trust. The Foundation is using sport to help empower students and help every young person to reach their full potential. Their community commitment is something that very much aligns with our Trust values of succeeding together and doing what matters most.
