Barclays ‘Spaces for Sports’ launches a three-year partnership with global sports charity ‘Right To Play’ to support disadvantaged migrant children in China. The ‘Empowerment Through Sport’ partnership address the issue and promote greater social harmony by using sports to help these children integrate into the wider society.
The launch event, which took place in Tong Xin Experiment School in Pi Village in Beijing, was attended by former China goalkeeper and Right To Play ambassador Gao Hong and 50 kids participating in the programme.
Children whose families migrate to inner city areas in search of work often struggle to enter and remain in mainstream education. They also face challenges relating to care and development, nutrition, healthcare and social discrimination.
This US$540,000 initiative aims to provide a sports and life skills curriculum for around 17,000 migrant children. In addition, as part of an effort to ensure the project’s sustainability, 850 coaches and teachers will be trained to deliver sports coaching.
‘We’re delighted to be launching this partnership in Beijing, which is our first major project in Asia as we look ahead to further expansion of Barclays Spaces for Sports globally,’ says Barclays ‘Spaces For Sports’ boss Kirk Harrison. ‘What’s important is that as well as transforming the lives of those migrant children we’ll be working with, we are committed to capacity building and educating trainers to deliver long-term impact.’
Wei Wei, National Director at Right To Play China, adds: “This is the first programme implemented in China since Right To Play’s entry into China in 2007. We are pleased to partner with Barclays Space for Sports over the next three years to reach out to more migrant children.
By training trainers and local teachers, the programme will provide migrant children with sustainable sport-based learning opportunities that will significantly improve their health, education and general wellbeing.’
Comment:
Barclays Spaces for Sports, a community sports programme using sport to revitalise disadvantaged communities and tackle key social issues, was originally launched back in 2004 in the UK. It has now delivered 200 community sports sites in partnership with two main charities – the Football Foundation and Groundwork. In 2008 it stretched beyond British borders into other markets in which the bank operates including South Africa, Spain, USA in and Zambia.
Part of Barclays’ wider community investment programme, which last year invested £55m and the time and skills of more than 62,000 employees to support disadvantaged communities around the world where Barclays operates.
The strategy of partnering with organisations and brand ambassadors around the world, working with specialists to ensure Barclays Spaces for Sports sites and projects meet the needs of local communities ensures third party expertise and adds authenticity to the initiative.
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