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Sports Heroes Behind The Scenes
Have you ever wondered how the children of today were turned into the sports champions of tomorrow? Or, wanted to know more about the grass roots ground-breakers who see the stars of the future in the making and believe in them from the very start? Well, all these questions and more will be answered in the national premiere of Sport’s Unsung Heroes, on Community Channel on Monday 14th May @ 11am, 5pm and 11.30pm.
This moving 30-minute documentary, made by BBC trainees on the Connect and Create programme, capturing the stories of the 15 regional winners nominated for the accolade of Unsung Hero in the BBC Sports Personality Awards. Sport’s Unsung Heroes recognises the people dedicating their lives to promoting sport in their communities who believe in the power of sport to enrich lives and who work tirelessly behind the scenes to inspire their communities to reach levels of sporting excellence. Their passion, pride and commitment prove that volunteering really can make a difference.
Edward Wood is one of the 15 heroes who has devoted his life to coaching rugby at grassroots level. He coached two great ‘Wills’ of English sporting history – England’s youngest former rugby captain, Will Carling and former English Rugby Union player, Will Greenwood. Edward, on his experience, says: “You’re enriching the lives of young people and their futures, giving them pleasure and encouraging them to take pride and be part of the community. I hope the effect I’ve had is to build their confidence.”
Val Hanover, has committed almost 30 years of her life to running the Special Olympics, and explains: “I love working with people with learning difficulties. Sport helps them with coordination, making new friends and team building. Volunteering is an absolutely marvellous experience - one of my proudest moments was when two of our athletes were selected to represent Great Britain in the World Games in Shanghai.”
Sport's Unsung Heroes Director, Archie Kalyana, said: “It's a humbling experience working with people who contribute to grassroot sports, developing the champions of the future. For us it's an absolute privilege to work with the 15 heroes who have been nominated for such a prestigious and worthwhile award.”
Andrew Carmichael, External Partnership Manager, BBC Training & Development: "This is an inspirational programme which gives some extra special people an opportunity to tell their story that may otherwise not have been told. It has been brought to life by a team of BBC staff from across the UK who all volunteered to take up the challenge of developing their programme making skills on our Connect and Create scheme."
If there is someone that you would like to nominate for Sport’s Unsung Heroes, go to www.bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero and fill out an online form. Nominations are welcome until 5th November.
For viewing copies, images and interviews please contact Rachel Lailey on 020 7874 7908 or email rachell@communitychannel.org
Notes to Editors
Sport’s Unsung Heroes:
Peter Quinney from Wiltshire is a trampolining instructor at Tidworth Leisure Centre, and is an ex British champion in the sport. He has made the Olympic sport accessible to people of all abilities, including quadriplegics who relish escaping the confines of a wheelchair to experience lying flat on a trampoline. Peter is inspired and deeply moved by his pupils, and said, “I get a lump in my throat just thinking about seeing the pleasure in their eyes. Our club motto is: ‘never say ‘can’t’’.”
Tanvir Akram from Derby is a football and cricket coach, of Pakistani origin. He said, “I realised about 7 years ago that there wasn’t much opportunity for young people to play football in Normington, and I wanted to do something about that.” Trevor started up a local team, which has since expanded to five, with one of them currently second in the league. Another sport close to his heart is cricket, which he grew up watching, and now coaches. He said, “Our job is to help children overcome adversity and make something of their lives and hopefully I’m contributing to that.”
Jim Hodge is a football coach from Ayshire who stopped playing professionally after a serious injury several years ago. His wife then encouraged him to start up a local youth team, which has
since branched out to include an outdoor activity centre where children can “jump around and be kids”. Jim said, “I want to keep local kids fit, active and healthy and my proudest moment is when they get to play on a really good football pitch.”
Val Hanover, from Shropshire, has been running the Special Olympics - for those with learning difficulties - since 1978. Val said, “I love working with people with learning difficulties. Sporting activities help them with coordination, making new friends and team building. Volunteering is an absolutely marvellous experience, and one of my proudest moments was when two of our athletes were selected to represent Great Britain in the World Games in Shanghai.”
Steven Cole, from Swindon, has been boxing since the age of eight, and is now giving local boys the chance to shine through the sport. He said, “I strive to give the lads something to aim for and boxing is a good sport and also helps to keep them out of trouble. Boxing involves a lot of self discipline and I think it makes you a better person.” Of his motivation he said, “I’m motivated by the thought of one day having a champion, although everyone is equally important.” He hopes one of his lads will follow in the footsteps of Swindon’s first ABA champion who boxed for, and captained, the English team.
Edward Wood from Durham has devoted his life to rugby, and has coached English legends including Will Carling and Will Greenwood who he says have enriched his coaching. Asked what keeps him motivated, he said: “You’re enriching the lives of young people and their futures, giving them pleasure and encouraging them to take pride and be part of the community. I hope the effect I’ve had is to build their confidence.”
Sandra Skinner from Barnet never had football coaching ambitions, but decided to “give it a go to take the Barnet Youth football team forward”, and has never looked back. Sandra has helped
the club gain promotion for two years’ running, and helped secure the league sportsmanship award, earning respect in the sport traditionally dominated by men.
Sandra wants to ensure all her budding footballers get equal opportunities, regardless of their widespread financial difficulties. She said, “We don’t let that get in the way. Each one of them deserves a chance.” She describes her coaching experience as “very rewarding” and is proud of the strong support network her players, and their families, are a part of.
Wally Owst has been involved in coordinating the Hull Sunday football league – made up of 156 teams - for over 40 years. He is the proud holder of an FA award acknowledging his 50 years of ongoing dedication and commitment. Wally said, “The greatest pleasure I get out of football is on Sundays where every park and pitch in Hull has a football match played on it.”
Barbara Jones, from Lancashire, is a swimming coach who has loved the sport since early childhood when her father taught her to swim in the River Ribble. She is extremely proud of the children she coaches, and their achievements. She said, “Volunteering is incredibly rewarding and I encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to get involved. I love to see children become excellent swimmers in a matter of months. If we get any of them to a professional level then that’s a bonus, but I’m proud of them all.”
Lynne Kemp from Norwich is a horseriding instructor – who has loved the sport since she was 14. She teaches people from all backgrounds and of all abilities to ride, including those with physical and mental disabilities. She says they are able to transcend their disabilities and ‘speak’ to the horses through ‘body language’, thus aiding them in their recovery. “She’s an incredibly encouraging instructor who devotes a lot of her time”, said one of Lynne’s students who suffered a stroke and whose recovery was aided by horseriding.
Fred Fragg from Ashford is a lifelong cricket enthusiast who has been a member of Mersham Sports Club since 1945. In his devotion to the sport he has been a player, bowler and umpire, and now spends his time getting the pitch ready for cricket matches. “Cricket teaches self discipline and helps youngsters to discipline themselves. I enjoy it very much, and I enjoy getting the ground ready.”
Jenny Worth from Cornwall, coaches the three sports she is passionate about - tennis, badminton and table tennis. Jenny believes that ‘excellence starts at grassroots level’ and is helping local children achieve such sporting excellence. She said, “From small beginnings they can go on to become stars of the future. Sport is fantastic really – it’s good training for life, and I’m proud to be trying to make a difference.”
Jackie Maxwell is a football coach at Oliver Plunkett FC who used the sport to get through one of the hardest times in his life - a personal tragedy that struck over 30 years ago. He said, “I was lost, and that’s when my wife pushed me to get into Oliver Plunkett. What I get out of it is unbelievable – it changes children enormously. It’s so important to plant the seed early and help them make something of themselves – all they need is passion. If you get them into sport at an early age, you can then get them to do anything.”
Mandy Keating from Merthyr Tydfl coaches a girls’ football team, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. She said, “The girls can escape their problems and enter a different world, a world where they’re important, and where they can actively achieve something and enjoy themselves. This is their sport – no one can stop them from doing this or take their achievements away from them. I love them – each and every one of them.”
Arthur Peel is a football coach from Queensbury in Bradford. He aims to “get the kids interested in something they’ll develop and follow.” He says many of them become adult footballers, which to him is very rewarding. After years of fundraising efforts, Arthur is delighted that they have finally managed to build an indoor pitch to shield them from the notoriously harsh winds that blow through the country’s highest point.
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Community Channel is TV that gives a damn. It makes you think again about the world around you, and inspires you to take action on the causes and issues that matter to you. Broadcasting original shows, the best of terrestrial TV and showcasing the work of new directors and community programme makers; Community Channel is the place for real-life stories. The channel is broadcast 24 hours a day, every day on Sky 539, Virgin TV 233, from 6-9am on Freeview 87. The channel is freely available to around 45 million people in 18.2 million homes across the country and around 2 million people watch every month (BARB). Community Channel is a Media Trust initiative. www.communitychannel.org
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