Ukrainian refugees enjoy their sports camp in Matlock.
YOUNG refugees from war-torn Ukraine have been making new friends and trying their hand at Zorb Football, Glow in the Dark Dodgeball and racketball after a Derbyshire sports company funded places on its holiday camp for 60 children.
Progressive Sports in the East Midlands holds holiday camps across Derby and Derbyshire throughout the summer holidays and this year, they have made 60 places available for Ukraine refugees living in the region.
Each refugee will also receive a free packed lunch, thanks to Sadlergates Catering. The company is also providing tasty lunches for those youngsters who receive free school meals.
Adam Holland, managing director of Progressive Sports in the East Midlands, said: “It has been wonderful seeing all the children enjoying themselves at our sports camps.
“Demand for our holiday courses has been at an all-time high following the success of the Women’s Football European Championship and England’s fantastic medal haul at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“After having such a tough few months it is great to see how the Ukraine refugees, who are living with local families, are making new friends and enjoying being children again.
“We make sure that our sessions are engaging and varied, plus as inclusive as possible – and our coaches are fully trained to deliver this.”
Derby-based Sadlergates Catering has been providing packed lunches for the refugees free of charge, as well as catering for 460 youngsters who are eligible for free school meals.
A successful campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford, for which the Manchester United forward was awarded an MBE, led to families entitled to free school meals across the UK receiving food vouchers during school holidays.
However, a recent BBC News investigation found that the vouchers have been cut in value by some councils.
Nathan Thomson, of Sadlergates Catering, said: “We were only to glad to help out by providing the packed lunches for the holiday courses.
“These youngsters have had a difficult few months and the last thing their families need to be thinking about, is where their next meal is coming from. It’s a pleasure to see the joy on their faces and all the children having such a good time.”
ENDS
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