Literacy and numeracy through snooker - no really!
I’m happy to say that I’ve been really busy since I posted my last blog! As well as continuing with Fathers and Sons, which is getting much busier, I’ve been working on lots of other projects in and around Sheffield.
One of my biggest contracts has been running taster courses for Sheffield College. They want me for 30 weeks of the year, to run 10 week courses for 12 students at a time. This is all aimed to get kids who are classed by the government as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) into some form of school or college, workplace, or training scheme. The Sheffield Rathbone Centre, which runs a youth engagement project, has also taken me on as a provider to work with NEETs through snooker.
Another thing we’re trying out is a more hands-on approach to our snooker academy workshops. As well as helping kids with literacy and numeracy through using the snooker balls, we’re also teaching them how to take down and put up a snooker table. It helps the kids feel really involved in what’s going on. Another new technique we’re trying out, which seems to be working pretty well, is using the D on the snooker table as a kind of protractor. Then, when the kids are playing, they can also have a go at trying to work out the angles of their shots. The idea is to have them learning all the time they’re playing, without even noticing. All the children are having a great time - making friends and developing important skills such as teamwork.
Tomorrow afternoon we’re holding the final of a snooker tournament for young people between the ages of 6 and 21 with learning difficulties. We had 52 entrants for the tournament, which has been running throughout the summer holidays. For the prize-giving tomorrow, British boxing champion Ryan Rhodes will be making a special appearance, which I’m sure the kids will love. This has had a massive impact on them; they’ve found social inclusion through this tournament and it’s great to see.
In terms of future projects, we’ve a lot going on. I’ve just had a meeting with someone from the ECT (Extended Curriculum Team) at Sheffield City Council. I’ll be helping with groups of 14-16 year olds, and 16-19 year olds, trying to get them back into education or employment.
I’m really pleased with the way the projects and the academy are developing; and I’m very proud of the progress the children in our projects are making. When you give the kids a snooker cue, you’re empowering them. Instead of feeling like they’re trapped behind a desk at school, the youngsters involved in our projects are getting out there and learning at the same time. It’s engaging them and getting their minds working, and they’re also learning a new practical skill - how to play snooker. They’re getting pretty good now too - one of them nearly beat me the other day!
