Charity Netball Match
Cheltenham College vs Malvern College
Tuesday 5 March
Raising Funds for National Star
National Star
National Star is delighted that they have been chosen as the Charity of the Year by Cheltenham College. National Star will be the focus of their whole school fundraising campaign throughout the 2023-24 school year. There will be events for the whole school get involved in, as well as the annual rugby match at Kingsholm and the annual netball match which take place at Cheltenham College.
National Star have decided that their fundraising will be spent on the Mollii suit. Chief Executive Lynette Barrett said: “Innovations, such as the Mollii suit can be life-changing for young people with disabilities. In our trials with this technology, we have seen students for the first time be able to hold their parent’s hand and sit up without assistance. These small changes can greatly improve a young person’s quality of life. But such cutting-edge technology comes at a price, a price which we, as a charity, cannot afford without community support.”
The Mollii suit is like a bit like a tracksuit but it is fitted with 58 electrodes, which can be controlled and adapted to each user. Mollii uses a low level electrical current which stimulates the muscles to contract and relax. This essential reaction is often lacking in someone with a neurological condition. The stimulation relaxes muscles that are perhaps causing unwanted movements and activates others which may need help. The wearing of the suit also ensures that the stimulation is through the whole body at the same time, whereas most therapies just work on one problem area. We have run trials of these suits at National Star and after just one hour wearing the suit, we have seen:
• Improved mobility for our ambulant students (those who can walk) – they are walking taller with a longer stride
• Improved standing and sitting posture so the students are more comfortable, particularly those in wheelchairs
• And most importantly we have seen a reduction in pain, which of course improves students’ mood and mental health.
Should Cheltenham College reach their fundraising target, we could buy 16 of these suits – just imagine the impact that this will make on their day to day lives.
Scan the QR code to donate today.
Game Schedule
Curtain Raiser: 5.30pm
Cheltenham College Prep School vs Hucclecote U13B
First Centre Pass: 7.15pm
Cheltenham College vs Malvern College
Finish: 8.30pm
“Thanks to Cheltenham College’s incredible commitment to this project, National Star will be able to use these innovative suits to improve young people’s lives. Through such fundraising partnerships we can make a difference”
National Star Chief Executive, Lynette BarrettSport at Cheltenham College
Director of Sport, Tim Watts
As Director of Sport at Cheltenham College it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 1st Team Charity Netball Match here at Cheltenham College. It is a major event in the sporting calendar and it encompasses all the fantastic attributes that sport has to offer for our pupils. Our mission at College is to promote a lifetime investment in sport and exercise, the thrill of being involved in a team dynamic and the satisfaction one gains from competition. At Cheltenham College we pride ourselves on being able to offer a sporting experience for any child, regardless of ability.
With a full calendar of fixtures each year and teams of all abilities, everyone at Cheltenham College has the opportunity to participate and succeed in sport. Those pupils that wish to reach the highest levels in their chosen sport are supported through the Talented Athlete Programme.
Everyone benefits from our extensive sports facilities and the coaching and support of the College Sports Professionals. Good Schools Guide 2023 highlighted that Girls and Boys at College place “equal value on each other’s sports, with masses of parents, pupils and staff turning up to cheer on players at matches.”
We’re sure that this evening’s event highlights just how true this statement is!
Head of Netball, Mrs Kate Mears
Kate joined Cheltenham College this September and has previously worked in a number of schools as Head of Netball and Head of Girls Games whilst also working as a Severn Stars Performance Pathway Coach Hucclecote Netball Club Coach.
We have had a fantastic start to the Netball season with an exciting preseason of friendly fixtures for multiple squads from U14-1st team level. These were played against a range of Severn Stars, Hucclecote Netball and Wrekin College squads. This helped College Netball Club prepare for the range of fixtures that kicked off the season.
We have 17 Netball teams in College and some particular highlights have included an exciting U14A match vs Severn Stars. This game went down to the wire with College nipping in a final goal, securing a 30-29 goal victory. We have enjoyed other exhilarating matches that have played out to the final whistle including our U15B’s clinching the win against local Cheltenham Ladies’ College by just one goal and our Senior 4th team also securing victory by just one goal against Tudor Hall..
Our U16’s qualified for Regional Finals at the National Schools Championships and enjoyed an overnight stay in Bournemouth ahead of the tournament. They had a challenging group, including Millfield and Redmaids but played some exceptional netball with all 12 members of the squad taking the court. Millfield went on to be Regional winners who our U16’s only lost to by four goals (our biggest loss of the tournament), showcasing how competitive the squad were.
We are looking forward to the charity match against Malvern College, which we expect to be an exciting and competitive event. Last year it was complimented with an exciting shoot out (including two special guest entries from Mrs Huggett and Mr Hayden) where Newick came out victorious. There were 700 spectators and although Cheltenham were leading the game for most of the match, Malvern found themselves ahead by just one goal at the final whistle, therefore we are sure this year it will be another thrilling event! We hope this event will be just as successful with lots of money raised for National Star.
Cheltenham College
Poppy (Upper Sixth, W) GS/GA
Autumn (Upper Sixth, Q) GA/GS
Pia (Lower SIxth, A) GK/GD
Alice (Upper Sixth, A) GA/GS
Hebe (Lower Sixth, W) GD/WD
Tula (Lower Sixth, Q) WD/C/WA
Min (Upper Sixth, A) C/WA
Jessica (Upper Sixth, A) GK
1st Team Player Profiles
Zoë (Lower Sixth, Ch) WA/C
Alice (Lower Sixth, Ch) WD/C
Sporting Success Stories
Cheltenham College are proud to have a number of alumni who have gone on to achieve fantastic sporting success since their time at Cheltenham. A number of our successful sportspeople have been named below.
Flora Peel (OJ and A, 2013) GB Hockey 2022 Pro League Squad
Flo Fletcher (A, 2021) GB Hockey 2023 Elite Development Programme Squad
Emily Drysdale (W, 2019) represented Wales at the European II Women’s Hockey Championship
Seb Blake (OJ and BH, 2020) Gloucester Rugby
Jack Clement (S, 2019) Gloucester Rugby, England U20 Rugby
Louis Hillman Cooper (S, 2020) Gloucester Rugby, England U20 Rugby
Ollie Thorley (BH, 2015) Gloucester Rugby, England Rugby
Jamie Chadwick (OJ and Ch, 2016) a 3x W Series Champion 2022
Sport at Malvern College
It is an absolute pleasure to join you in this year’s annual charity match, now into its fourth year. Having recently completed my first full cycle as Director of Sport, I can say without hesitation that this event is like no other for a ‘friendly’ one-off school match. This annual celebration of netball continues to be a mainstay and highlight of our school calendar, shown by the amount of support generated not only from our own school community, but also that of Cheltenham and guests near and far.
Our girls have a lot to look forward to as we’ve recently launched our next major overseas Netball & Hockey Tour to the Caribbean to take place in summer 2025. The cultural experiences and sporting competition will create shared memories that I have no doubt will stay with the girls, and the staff who accompany the trip, for their lifetime. Sport brings people together like nothing else - it teaches you how to connect with people from all walks of life like nothing else.
My thanks go to our very own Becky Lewis, and to Kate Mears and Tim Watts at Cheltenham for their kind invitation and for pulling this event together, which is no small task. I am very much looking forward to all that this rivalry brings in what we hope will be a cracking contest, played in the right spirit.
Director of Sport, Lee Hilton
Malvern College
Emily K C/WA
Charlotte B GS/WA
Grace S GA/GS
Isla G GK/GD/WD
Isabella H GA/WA
Daisy T GS/GA
Isabella U WD/GK
Mr Joe Crichard Strength and Conditioning Coach
Miss Becky Lewis Head of Netball
1st Team Player Profiles
Rachel H-R GK/GD/WD
Lily W GD/C
Olivia H WA/C
“Every school says it produces all-rounded pupils, this one really does.”
Good Schools Guide, 2023
Cheltenham College, Bath Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
GL53 7LD
Tel: +44 (0) 1242 265 600 info@cheltenhamcollege.org www.cheltenhamcollege.org
Registered Charity No. 311720