Bolton St Catherine’s

Over the past term the Manchester United Foundation and BSCA have been working hard to implement some fantastic new initiatives and create opportunities for the learners at BSCA and the local community as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. Our year group Ambassadors have been planning, preparing and delivering a project regarding Mindfulness.

Football

They held a 5-aside football tournament for Year 7 and 8, where participants had to pay to enter, compete against each other and the winning team received a MUFC Medal and merchandise.

All of the money raised was then donated to the charity Manchester Mind. Tournament winners: Reid, Josh, Hadi, Emanuel, Kian, Fally

Christian Aid Week

As well as this the year Ambassadors have been working closely with the Christian youth group at the school to raise money for Christian Aid. They held a competition for the most kick ups, charging 50p a go, and the winner received a Manchester United shirt. The winner of the competition over the 4 days did 226 kick ups!

Stones

In addition to this, the year ambassadors created mindfulness stones to place around the local community.

They got quotes from the bible, positive and empowering quotes as well as pictures that they painted on the rocks with #BSCA #CARES #MUFC on the back, which they then went and placed around the local community, in parks and walk ways. This was with the aim to help inspire and improve people’s mood when they are out and about.

Manchester United in partnership with Adidas kindly donated 48 gift packs of MUFC kit to the school to be handed out to a variety of learners, to help inspire them to continue to come into school during difficult times, and continue the hard work they have been doing.

“These boxes are a great way to motivate our learners to focus and engage in their learning alongside giving some of our vulnerable students the opportunity to have quality kit that they otherwise couldn’t

afford to have. ”

Miss Gibson, Head of Year 8

I found lockdown pretty quiet, I wasn’t able to go outside, or do anything it was “ hard and boring. I was worried about getting to and from school, and then if my family became sick I wouldn’t be there to support or help them. I was nervous to come back into the school environment and being in a classroom with lots of people. I received this gift because I was good in class, achieving everything and doing everything I could over lockdown to continue with my studies and help other students. I am excited and surprised that I would receive a gift this generous and big. I am super happy and pleased, thank you! It is the best gift I have been given, even better than my Christmas gift. ”

With the impact COVID-19 has had on the nation’s health both “ physically and mentally, the Manchester United Foundation has created and kindly donated 75 footballs and books to support the learners at BSCA and the other partner schools, to bring the conversation of mental health up, but also provide them with the opportunity to use these books to help themselves and others. Mrs Fairclough, Head of Year 7 ”

Harry Huang Year 8 – Harry received an Adidas gift box.

Donated MUFC tickets

With lockdown restrictions recently being eased 2 lucky learners at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy received tickets to the first game back with fans at Old Trafford with a parent or guardian. These went to Seth and Emmanuel, as these learners are the ones who daily demonstrate the BSCA values and are fantastic role models to the other learners in the school. Here is what they had to say:

Emmanuel Year 7

“These tickets are having an incredible impact on behaviour, and rewarding those who are always well behaved, and sometimes go under the radar. This is life changing to some of our learners who would not get a chance and opportunity to do this.”

“Seth Year 7 This is amazing, I am such a big Manchester United fan, and I cannot “I can not describe, and words can’t describe how I am feeling right now. wait to be able to go to the Manchester I am beyond happy, this is amazing. United game with my dad, especially I can not wait to go into the stadium with not being able to see any football with my family at watch my favourite live over the past year. Being one of the team. This is amazing and something first fans back in the stadium is an expe- I never get to do, even without covid rience I will never forget. ” stopping me. Thank you so much. ”