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DCSF Extended Services Conference at the Royal Horticultural Society in London. Rex Hall was one of the speakers at this event, supported by members of the RHA Team. (9 February 2010)
Associate Centre Conference at the Sno!Zone in Castleford. This provided an opportunity to see how the PfS model has evolved and offered help and guidance for those considering the establishment of an Associate Centre in partnership with Playing for Success. Full guidance notes for setting up an Associate Centre can be found in the ‘Beyond PfS’ section of this PfS website. (5 February 2010)
PfS Supports NQT. Bolton PfS has successfully supported a member of staff through their probationary year. The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) has been satisfied that the centre provides a suitable setting for induction and enables the Newly Qualified Teacher to meet the core standards. (January 2010)
Olympic Chief Tells Wythenshawe Children to Get Set for 2012! Over 40 children have been showcasing some of the inspirational Olympic activities featured at the GreenZone PfS Centre in Wythenshawe, Manchester. Jeremy Beeton, the Director General of the Government Olympic Executive, described the centre as “exemplary”. He then said that the pupils were already benefiting from what the PfS initiative was doing and during a question and answer session with the young people he urged them to “rise to the occasion”, adding that “if I could find a way of replicating the initiative throughout the whole country and get hundreds of thousands of people interested in sport, interested in culture, interested in learning, trying to improve, then why not? That’s a great challenge… set yourself some goals, just go and do it!” The Centre Manager, Andy Jordan looks forward to the event having a lasting impact as it directly supports the range of learning opportunities provided by the centre. (28 January 2010)
 A group of 16 delegates from the Netherlands visit London. 21 and 22 January 2010 saw colleagues already involved and intending to become involved in PfS visit a number of London centres to gather ideas and inspiration for the further expansion of PfS Netherlands. With four centres already open and more committed to opening in the near future, the Dutch government’s commitment to PfS is facilitating a rapid expansion of PfS in the Netherlands. Whilst in London the group visited the PfS centres at Arsenal FC, West Ham United FC and Charlton Athletic FC. Delegates had the opportunity to view the development of the Olympic site from the 23rd floor viewing point.
Norfolk Playing for Success celebrates 10 years of PfS. As part of the 2009 celebrations of a decade of PfS in Norfolk, the team has produced a film which reflects upon the development of PfS across the county and explores the potential for future developments and sustainability.
Phil Beadle teaches the use of the comma and colon using football skills as a motivator. A group of Croydon youngsters were up bright and early for a training session at Crystal Palace FC’s training ground on 14 December 2009. The youngsters were put through their paces as Phil demonstrated the differences between using a comma and colon, full stop and speech marks. As part of this event Phil has written and published a supporting document which is available upon request from the RHA office.
 Nottingham celebrates 10 years of PfS. In December 1999 HRH the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened Nottingham Forest FC’s PfS centre. In the ten years that have followed, the centre has worked with over 8,000 students from 80 schools across the City of Nottingham. In December 2009 as part of the ten year celebrations PfS provided ten mascots for the match against Preston North End FC. The Preston North End Learning and Community Centre also provided ten mascots to escort their team onto the pitch.
 HRH Duke of Kent visits MK Dons FC’s PfS centre. The Duke, who is 24th in line to the throne, was pleased to meet PfS Champions from Langland Combined School in Milton Keynes who were enjoying a World Cup themed session in the Dons’ state-of-the-art study centre. His Royal Highness joined in with an interactive quiz demonstrating his knowledge of football as ex-President of the Football Association. Following the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the royal visit the pupils presented His Royal Highness with a personalised Dons’ shirt emblazoned with ‘The Duke of Kent’. The royal party was treated to a demonstration from the Dons’ ‘Alive & Kicking’ programme which saw the trust working in partnership with BT and the Football Foundation on a cross-generational project to encourage Over 55’s in the city to get active and ‘tuned into’ digital technology. (November 2009)
 Birmingham City FC’s BlueZone Learning Centre’s Art Workshop. On 25 November 2009 a group of PfS secondary pupils took part in an arts workshop day at the The Public in West Bromwich to work with Colin Yates on a range of football themed art activities linking into his ‘Black Looks’ exhibition which is currently on show there.
Sir Robert Balchin visits Crystal Palace FC’s PfS centre. Following a visit to the centre in October 2009 Sir Robert Balchin sent a letter of thanks to the centre saying, “I was hugely impressed and Susan deserves so many congratulations for the amazing responses that she and her teachers enticed from the young boys present. It was marvellous to see. All credit to Rex for his foresight and drive in getting so many similar centres together. Thank you all so much for an enjoyable and instructive afternoon.”
 Lord Sebastian Coe meets youngsters at Somerset County Cricket Club’s ground. Lord Coe was visiting the ground which is likely to be a potential Olympic training venue and whilst there he joined in the PfS ‘Fitness Challenge’, giving the youngsters the benefit of his experience in developing a running technique. (September 2009)
 The ‘Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Involvement in Rugby League project is a new project by the Rugby Football League (RFL). Pupils at Huddersfield Giants RLFC’s PfS centre had the chance to be part of this exciting project, interviewing and filming Huddersfield Giants players and staff past and present from BME backgrounds. The sessions feature in the RFL newsletter and a booklet was produced for pupils to work from, copies of which can be obtained from the centre by request. (May 2009)
 HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh officially open the Leigh Centurions Learning Zone. In May 2009, as the PfS National Conference was in full swing, Her Majesty and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, toured the PfS centre facilities and spent time talking to the children about their activities.
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10/11 February - Sports College Conference in Telford, RHA will have a PfS and Double Club presence for both days of this event which will provide opportunities to see how both models can link well with Sports College policy and practice.
22 and 25 February - PfS Local Authority Forums. This is an opportunity for LAs already engaged with PfS to meet together. Issues to be covered include, how PfS can be used as a tool for narrowing the gap, increasing confidence and self-esteem and improving the motivation of young people to learn. There will be opportunities to explore the benefits and potential of secure strategic planning around PfS and study support and to hear case studies of good practice, to look at the elements necessary to manage effective delivery, to discuss the support RHA can offer and to meet with the DCSF team who will provide a policy and funding update to inform plans for sustainability.
27 and 28 May - The National PfS Conference. This year the conference will take place at Alton Towers theme park and the focus for the conference is maximising Playing for Success, renewing partnerships and developing provision during an ever changing climate. Invitations to centre managers, club contacts and LA representatives will be distributed during March. The format for the conference has evolved and we look forward to providing a learning experience for all delegates within a stimulating environment.
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