“Being involved in sport is one of the most enriching things you can do in your life." - Pamela Cookey and Grace Balsdon deliver an inspirational netball and hockey programme at Ingham Primary School
“Being involved in sport is one of the most enriching things you can do in your life. You learn so much, make incredible friends and gain so many opportunities that you might never have thought you would.”
Wow! We couldn’t have thought of a better way to celebrate our final programme of the year than with not one but two inspirational Mintridge Ambassadors during our Bronze netball and hockey programme at Ingham Primary School.
The amazing Pamela Cookey and Grace Balsdon joined the staff and students at Ingham Primary School for a very inspirational programme and round up a brilliant year for the students at the school as they prepared for their summer holidays.
Our England Netball legend, Pamela Cookey delivered a great netball programme alongside our GB Hockey player Grace Balsdon who are both preparing for their appearances at the Commonwealth Games next week. Pamela in the commentary box and Grace on the hockey pitch.
The Mintridge Foundation worked with Ingham Primary School to create this programme for their school to help inspire the next generation of young people to be the best young people they possibly can be, as well as showing them a thing or two on the netball court and hockey pitch too.
During our visit, Pamela shared snippets of her career in netball and her double life off the court. Not only has Pamela been an England Netball captain, but she is also a successful businesswoman and has taken on numerous leadership roles in different businesses during her career so far. Pamela also shared some top tips for success with the students and why being involved in sport is such a life-enhancing experience for them all. After Pamela shared her story, it was Grace’s turn to speak to the students all about her life as a GB hockey player and what it takes to win at an Olympic Games. Grace also spoke about how the team are preparing for the Commonwealth Games next week. It was incredibly exciting for the students to see Grace’s medals and learn more about the Commonwealth Games which she will be taking part in only one week after her visit.
The students at Ingham Primary School were all very excited to learn from Pamela and Grace during their sessions and try some new skills during their time with these two inspirational Ambassadors and we are so glad they could make the most of this amazing opportunity.
Team Mintridge, Pamela and Grace all really enjoyed our day at Ingham Primary School and we can’t wait to see both Pamela and Grace on our screens next week during the Commonwealth Games. We know that the students will be looking out for their two Ambassadors next week and we wish Grace and the GB hockey team the best of luck during their matches.
At the end of each of our sessions, the students each took an autograph card home with them to remember their special day and we took some class photographs for them to keep too.
We are so pleased that we managed to catch Ben Smith’s mentee at the end of our day too!
Thank you to Ingham Primary School for inviting us to your school again this summer and we hope to see you all again soon.
If you would like to understand more about our mentoring programmes with our Mintridge Ambassadors and how they can support the young people at your school or club, please contact Katie Smith.
The Mintridge Foundation is dedicated to helping young people find their mental fitness superpowers. Following research conducted by Loughborough University, Mintridge successfully replaces any negative notion of pressure around physical activity with fun, breaking down barriers and levelling the playing field. That is exactly what Pamela Cookey and Grace Balsdon did during their visit on Wednesday 20th July 2022.
The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.
Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as Fitswarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.
The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.
The Mintridge Foundation
Unit 4, Shieling Court
Northfolds Road
Corby
Northants
NN18 9QD
Tel: +44 (0) 1536 447106
www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk