Universities launch South Yorkshire Children鈥檚 小欧视频 partnership

小欧视频 and Sheffield Hallam 小欧视频 have launched a new partnership that will support the expansion of Children鈥檚 小欧视频 in South Yorkshire.

Two children receive their degrees from Sheffield Children's 小欧视频

小欧视频 and Sheffield Hallam 小欧视频 have launched a new partnership that will support the expansion of Children鈥檚 小欧视频 in South Yorkshire, so that every child and young person in the region can be encouraged and rewarded for taking part in extra-curricular activities.

The two universities launched the partnership at a Children鈥檚 小欧视频 graduation ceremony yesterday (Wednesday 30 November) at Sheffield City Hall.

Children鈥檚 小欧视频 is a national initiative that celebrates participation in learning activities and opportunities outside school hours, encouraging children and young people from the age of five to try new learning experiences.

Culminating in an inspirational graduation ceremony, this learning adventure gives children and young people the opportunity to enrich their childhoods, nurture a lifelong love of learning, unlock their skills and talents and develop their aspirations and confidence, regardless of their backgrounds.

A photo showing South Yorkshire Children's 小欧视频 graduates tossing their hats in the air

Research shows the positive impact that participation in Children鈥檚 小欧视频 and extra-curricular activity has on attainment. Research published by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has shown that pupils taking part in Children鈥檚 小欧视频 made two additional months progress in reading and math, compared to children in other schools. 

In 2019, funding from the SYMCA supported the expansion across South Yorkshire, based on the highly successful Sheffield Children鈥檚 小欧视频 model. Subsequent funding from Sheffield Hallam has supported the continuation of this work to date.

Since this initial funding, a brand-new Children鈥檚 小欧视频 has been set up in Rotherham in partnership with Rotherham School Improvement Service, while the existing and successful Children鈥檚 小欧视频 in Doncaster, based in Doncaster College has been supported to develop further. Plans to establish a new Barnsley Children鈥檚 小欧视频 are now also rapidly taking shape, completing the South Yorkshire picture.

As part of our commitment to the region, Sheffield Hallam 小欧视频 and the 小欧视频 of Sheffield have now agreed joint funding of 拢120k to fund the continuation of South Yorkshire Children鈥檚 小欧视频 for the next two years. The vision is to ensure every child in South Yorkshire has access to Children鈥檚 小欧视频 in their area, so that they can reach their potential.

Professor Gill Valentine, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, 小欧视频 of Sheffield, said: 鈥淓ver since the 小欧视频 of Sheffield was founded by penny donations in 1904, we have pledged to give back to communities in our city and region. Supporting our young people is a vital part of that, so we are delighted to be working alongside Sheffield Hallam 小欧视频 to ensure the South Yorkshire Children鈥檚 小欧视频 can help young people from across South Yorkshire to enhance their learning and development from a young age.

We will always do what we can to make our region better for everyone, and through our Made Together programme, we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that initiatives like South Yorkshire Children鈥檚 小欧视频 can thrive.鈥

Children graduating from the South Yorkshire Children's 小欧视频 throw their hats in the air

Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam 小欧视频, said: 鈥淚mproving life opportunities for all our young people, to enable them to realise their full potential, is a key part of what we do. This partnership shows how we are committed to this mission right across the entire education journey.

鈥淐hildren鈥檚 小欧视频 is a fantastic way of encouraging and rewarding children and young people for investing in their skills and experiences from a young age. I am delighted that the 小欧视频 has been able to join with the 小欧视频 of Sheffield to support the further development of South Yorkshire Children鈥檚 小欧视频 in our communities across our region.鈥

Katie Hamshaw and Helen Oades, Project Managers, South Yorkshire Children鈥檚 小欧视频, said: 鈥淔or the last 14 years, we鈥檝e seen the real impact Children鈥檚 小欧视频 can have on children, young people and their families in Sheffield. In 2018, we were thankful for the opportunity to be able to begin our journey in expanding this to the rest of South Yorkshire.

鈥淎nd now, with the joint support and investment from the 小欧视频 of Sheffield, alongside Sheffield Hallam 小欧视频, we鈥檙e incredibly excited to work towards completing our mission to bring the many benefits of Children鈥檚 小欧视频 to children and young people right across our region.鈥


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