Staff and students from Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy in Tividale have taken part in a 16-mile sponsored walk to raise funds for a new 3G football pitch.
And there’s still time to donate to support their fundraising efforts!
The 12-hour walk was part of an application to the Football Foundation for the pitch, which would benefit students and the wider community alike.
Participants walked through Oldbury, Cradley Heath, West Bromwich and Wednesbury, visiting neighbouring schools and even picked litter in the community as they went.
The walk has already helped to raise £6,235 to kick off the fundraising campaign, with the school aiming to raise a total of £10,000 over the coming months.
To support the fundraising, please visit the Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy 3G pitch fundraiser on the JustGiving website or by email to get in touch.
Visiting the academy, Councillor Jalal Uddin, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “I am delighted that OSCA are looking to create a new 3G football pitch at the school site.
“It’s a 3G pitch that would clearly be well used during curriculum time and, importantly, this pitch would also be used during evenings, weekends and holidays for community clubs and teams under a community use agreement.
“We know how important facilities like this are for our health, fitness and for spending time with friends. Our teams in Sport and Leisure and Public Health will continue to support the school as the project progresses.
“It was great to meet students and staff to hear about their plans and their sponsored walk and litter pick on 25 June. I’d like to say a huge well done to everyone involved – what a fantastic way to raise money and help out our local community.”
Adrian Price, Senior Principal at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy, said: “Having completed a gruelling 16-mile walk in high 20 degrees heat my overriding feeling is one of tiredness!
“I am passionate about the power of social action and love the fact that our young people celebrate what is great about where they live and work hard to improve it too.
“This pitch really does means so much to the school and the community. We serve an area that deserves the very best facilities, and we’d like to give a huge thank you to Ormiston Academies Trust, the Football Foundation and the entire Oldbury community for their support in fundraising for this new pitch.”