Paralympian, Liz Johnson, visits Earlsdon Primary School to support Birmingham 2022 project

Published Thursday, 18 November 2021

Today, Friday 12 November, Paralympic Gold medallist and Channel 4 sport commentator, Liz Johnson, visited Earlsdon Primary School to support the Commonwealth Connections programme which aims to develop sports leadership amongst children and young people across the region.  

The sessions are a part of the official Birmingham 2022 Youth Programme, are funded by Youth Sport Trust and delivered by the British Council.

In total, six Coventry schools have forged a partnership with six more schools in Zambia as part of this project; Earlsdon Primary School, Finham Park 2, Coundon Court, Moseley Primary School, Riverbank Academy and Corpus Christi Primary School to give young people knowledge and understanding of the Commonwealth and its values.

The unique project is being hosted across the West Midlands and countries across the Commonwealth, as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Connections will enable the schools and their pupils to take part in a range of sporting, cultural and citizenship projects.

By using school twinning, this project provides educational opportunities for young people and teachers to develop knowledge and understanding of the Commonwealth and its values, allowing young people to shape their communities.

Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member Public Health and Sport, paid a visit to Earlsdon Primary School to chat to the children and Liz.  

He said: "It was amazing to experience the Commonwealth Connections project today at Earlsdon Primary School with Liz Johnson. The work that the Commonwealth Games team and Coventry's schools are doing to help the children's futures is amazing.

"The children will get firsthand experience of leadership and communication in sports, physical activity and arts settings which will be brilliant for their mental and physical wellbeing. Together with that, it supports children and young people of all abilities which is always a focus for us here in Coventry.

"I look forward to seeing how the programme develops further in the run up to the Games."

On hearing the news that six Coventry schools successfully applied to take part in the Commonwealth Connections project, Darren Coyle MBE, Programme Director at the British Council, said: "I am delighted that Finham Park 2, Earlsdon Primary, Corpus Christi Primary, Moseley Primary, Riverbank Academy and Coundon Court in Coventry are taking on this excellent opportunity to build international connections between teachers and young people in Zambia and the UK.

"Their commitment to equip young people with the knowledge and understanding of the Commonwealth and its values in the lead up to 2022 Commonwealth Games is to be commended".

Rebecca Bollands from Earlsdon Primary School, added: "It is a huge honour to be selected to participate in the Commonwealth Connections project. We are delighted that six Coventry schools will be representing Coventry and Warwickshire in this international initiative. We are looking forwarding to collaborating with schools in Zambia and also to developing our students sport leadership skills."

More information on Birmingham 2022's Youth Programme can be found on their website.

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