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Bristol City's study support centre was one of the
first 10 football clubs to receive a grant from Reading
The Game to run a RIF
project.
For their RIF project 06-07, Bristol City FC Study Support
Centre set themselves the challenge of raising the
funding themselves. To do this, dedicated reading and
Bristol FC fan Russell Tanner (Study Support Centre
Assistant Manager) cycled from Bristol City's ground,
Ashton Gate, to Land's End. Russell was joined by
3 other team members for the ride on Sunday 8 April and Monday 9 April.
David James lent his support by meeting the team at Exeter City football ground.
Although the ride has been completed, if you would like to sponsor him, you can still visit http://www.justgiving.com/rideoutreadon.
In its first year BCFC worked with five primaries in
the Knowle West area, which is one of the five poorest
wards in the country. As part of their RIF project,
60 nine to ten year-olds received three free books each
at distributions held during their Playing for Success
courses. These children were identified by local police
because they were at risk of and were offending. Meanwhile,
Football in the Community provided the group with two
nights of football coaching, with much emphasis on citizenship
as well as how to become a great footballer! Police
have found reductions in crime as a result of these
sessions.
For their second year of RIF, BCFC received a grant
from Barclays via RIF to provide a further 180 books
for a new cohort of 60 children. For the 2004/2005 season,
BCFC has received a grant from GWR which will allow
them to provide free books for 130 children throughout
the year.
Part of the Study Support Centre has been converted into a special
Reading Corner, and Centre Managers Mandy and Russell have put an
actual Ashton Gate goal net on the wall which has trapped player's
favourite reads to inspire the children.
Bristol City has continued to run a RIF project every
year, with great success.
Reading Champions: Steve
Brooker (pdf)
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